Review Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS)
I love the smell of Elfire in the morning
News Fire Emblem: Awakening Download Takes Up Almost 8,600 Blocks
It's set to be a blockbuster
News - January, 2013
Thursday31st Jan 2013
Talking Point The Legend of Zelda: Remakes of the Past
Majora's Mask 3D, anyone?
The recent announcement of The Wind Waker HD for Wii U was met with a great deal of excitement not just here on Nintendo Life, but across social networks and other websites. It's a title that has a passionate, loyal following, and the prospect of an enhanced version prompted plenty of conversations about just what...
More picture crossword goodness
A few months ago, Nintendo released Picross e on the eShop, the first new Picross game in a while and quite an enjoyable - if rather short - package. Thankfully, if you felt a little short-changed you can delve straight back into puzzle-solving with the sequel, Picross e2. Is it anywhere near as good as its...
Nintendo Download 31st January 2013 (North America)
An awakening, a puddle, underwater exploration and more
While this week's Nintendo download update for Europe is rather modest, albeit with a long-awaited Wii U release, you lucky North Americans have a broad range of content across every platform. There are demos, retail downloads and some interesting new and retro options, so let's get right to...
Bad religion
God games are usually about protecting people, not condemning them. Babel Rising, however, tears a page or two out of the Book of Genesis and sees you, as the heavenly overseer himself, casting down any subjects that dare to defy. Hundreds of heretics are constructing a gigantic tower to reach the skies, but by smiting them and their...
News Iwata: 10 Key 3DS Titles On The Way This Year
Nintendo President believes new games will boost handheld sales in the West
Nintendo is hoping to give the 3DS a boost of momentum this year by releasing around ten games of its own. In a meeting with investors during Nintendo’s latest financial results briefing, President Satoru Iwata said the company would be personally shipping ten games that...
News Iwata Implies That He Could Step Down Over Sluggish Sales Performance
"We feel greatly accountable for this severe outlook"
Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has hinted that he will step down if goals for the next fiscal year are not met. Speaking in a Corporate Management Policy Briefing, Iwata addressed the thorny issue of two consecutive years of losses and recent financial troubles: We feel greatly accountable...
Preview Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
We ain't afraid of no ghost!
There’s no denying that the 3DS was somewhat overshadowed by the Wii U during the holiday period and that it didn't quite have the packed software line-up it had enjoyed back in late 2011. Aside from Paper Mario: Sticker Star there wasn't a great deal for us to sink our teeth into, and things were made worse when the...
News Latest Figures Show The Video Game Market Is Contracting
Satoru Iwata briefs investors and reveals many challenges for the industry
Nintendo is certainly having a good old time in Japan. The 3DS is dominating hardware sales in the region, so much so it has already surpassed the 10 million sales mark. However, things aren't looking as rosy in the overseas markets, namely the US and Europe, where Nintendo's...
Review 35 Junior Games (3DS eShop)
Why buy one when you can have 35?
When it comes to games that put Nintendo enthusiasts on alert, compilations of mini-games are probably up there with movie licensed cash-ins. If a bold claim is made that a game offers dozens of games for the price of one download, eyebrows are raised and the final package will either be the greatest value ever...
News Wii U Price Cut Isn't in Nintendo's Plans
Iwata: "I would like to make this point absolutely clear"
Following the announcement of the latest financial results for Nintendo, Satoru Iwata addressed a number of issues in a subsequent briefing, some of which we've already reported. Naturally, Wii U was a major part of the presentation, with data presented by the Nintendo President that showed...
News GoldenEye Creator Explains N64 Title's Role In Bringing "Real" Guns to the Virtual World
Brand names weren't licensed, which has changed in modern games.
With gun control and related violence a topical subject in the U.S. and among interested parties and spectators worldwide, the role of video games has faced its own level of scrutiny. Major publishers had a meeting with vice-President Joe Biden as part of his gun control task-force...
News Nintendo Plans To Make It Easier For Developers To Share Their Assets Between Platforms
Expanding developer capabilities with technology like Unity, JavaScript and HTML5
Nintendo President Satoru Iwata recently held a financial briefing with investors that wasn't exactly brimming with good news for the company. Iwata-san revealed that Nintendo recorded an operating loss of 5.85 billion Yen in the nine month period and spoke about a...
News TiVo And Google Maps Functionality For Wii U Hit By Delay
Both slip from January to "early 2013"
TVii is one of the Wii U's biggest selling points in North America, but the service hasn't had the best of starts. It didn't launch with the machine and wasn't up and running until December. Even then, it lacked TiVo - something that Nintendo insisted would be coming this month. It now turns out that TiVo...
News Warren Spector: "I'm Sad But Excited For The Future"
Former Junction Point chief is proud of the studio's achievements
Yesterday Disney announced that it was closing Junction Point Studios indefinitely, resulting in around 160 people sadly losing their jobs. Warren Spector was the man who headed up the operation at Junction Point, and because of the closure he too has left Disney Interactive. In a...
News Forgotten Legions Coming Soon To DSiWare
Hopefully it won't be forgettable
Cypronia has announced that Forgotten Legions, its latest DSiWare title, is finished and will soon be available to download soon on DSiWare and the 3DS eShop. Aimed at experienced gamers, Forgotten Legions is a strategy game featuring a wide range of characters and a fair sized campaign. The upcoming release uses...
News NBA 2K13 Demo Now Available In The Euro Wii U eShop
Hoopin' and hollerin'
NBA 2K13 has been available in North America since the very start of the Wii U's existence. Europe had to wait a little longer to shoot some hoops, with the game being released earlier this month. Europe has also had to wait longer for a demo, something that's been in the North American Wii U eShop for a while. Well worry not...
Wednesday30th Jan 2013
Review Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS)
I love the smell of Elfire in the morning
A hint of trepidation arises whenever the "Powers That Be" decide that "Your Cool Thing" needs a bigger audience, primarily because "What They Like" and "Why You Like It" don't always mesh. Take Fire Emblem, possibly the most hardcore of Nintendo's franchises — not "hardcore" in the nonsense term of it...
Book Review The Legend Of Zelda: Hyrule Historia
Consulting the legendary tome
It’s amazing to think that a game which started out as a very basic action RPG on the NES has morphed into one of gaming’s most enduring and famous properties, sparking everything from emotional debate to hushed reverence whenever its name is uttered. The Legend of Zelda series - apparently inspired by creator...
News Nintendo Rewarding Millionaire Coin Collectors In New Super Mario Bros. 2
Global coin total hits a staggering 500 billion
There's no denying that most of us have checked into therapy to overcome our coin collecting addiction in New Super Mario Bros. 2, and with the global coin total hitting an incredible 500 billion, Nintendo Australia has a reward for players who have become coin millionaires in the popular platformer...
News Don't Worry, There's A Cavalcade Of Fan-Favorite Wii U and 3DS Games Incoming
The only way is up
Sectors of the gaming press would have you believe that Nintendo is in serious trouble. From revised earnings to poor Wii U sales, the outlook isn't as bright as we'd hope. However, in an statement to investors, Nintendo has issued a bullish assurance that from March onwards, things are going to change: Beginning in March and...
News Call of Duty: Black Ops II Wii U Update Hits A Rocky Patch
Pun absolutely intended
A short while ago, Activision confirmed that the Call of Duty: Black Ops II patch would be coming to the Wii U later this month. However, that prediction might prove to be incorrect, as it would appear that Activision is experiencing some problems getting the update ready for deployment. Here's what has been posted on the...
Talking Point Nintendo's Lower Expectations Are No Surprise
Nintendo isn't doomed, though
Today Nintendo issued its third quarter financial results, showing where the company stands in terms of profits and sales. To get the positive out of the way and to avoid any confusion, the company is now projecting a net income profit of 14 billion Yen - over $150 million dollars at the time of writing. In summary,...
Rumour Sniper Elite V2 Coming To Wii U March 21st
Taking aim
It would seem that World War II sniping simulation Sniper Elite V2 is making its way to the Wii U. US store GameStop has listed the game on its site, as has Amazon US. Amazon even goes as far as to list the release date as March 21st - clearly the retailer knows something that we don't.
News Nintendo's Financial Results Bring Operational Losses But Overall Profit
Wii U sales to date pass three million
Nintendo has today published its quarterly financial results, which cover the nine months up to the end of December. In terms of the baseline figures that concern shareholders the outcome is disappointing if not a disaster, while sales of hardware seem to be in reasonable shape. Wii U is reported to have...
News Space Harrier 3D Flying To The West Soon
Fantasy Zone, here we come
Space Harrier 3D has been given a "G" rating by the Australian Classification Board, which means it won't be long before we see the game flying to the 3DS eShop in North America, Europe and Australia. The game is a faithful replication of Sega's seminal arcade blaster. It features 3D visuals and other enhancemen
News Plenty Of Room For Rupees In These Awesome Nintendo Wallets
Look cool and keep all your golden coins safe at the same time
Whether it be pounds, dollars or even rupees, everyone needs a wallet, so why not show your love for Nintendo with a video-game offering? If you're looking for suitable options, our friends over at Wicked Wallets might be able to assist. They've kindly sent us some of their finest...
News Oliver and Spike: Dimension Jumpers Pencilled In For Wii U
"Ratchet & Clank meets Zelda meets Uncharted"
Norwegian developer Rock Pocket Games is working on a new project called Oliver and Spike: Dimension Jumpers, and it intends to bring it to Wii U as well as PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The colourful 3D exploration puzzler features a world full of dimensions, and the happenings in each one influences...
News Dr Kawashima's Devilish Brain Training Arrives in Europe on 12th April
Our old brains will need to wait
While Brain Age: Concentration Training will encourage youthful and focused brains in North America soon, it seems Europeans will need to wait until 12th April. Snappily titled Dr Kawashima's Devilish Brain Training: Can You Stay Focused? in the region, it will arrive as both a physical and downloadable retail...
News Double Dragon Is Brawling Onto The Japanese 3DS eShop Next Week
Billy and Jimmy are taking no prisoners
Nintendo of Japan has confirmed that the Famicom (NES to you and me) version of Double Dragon is coming to the 3DS eShop next week - February 6th, to be exact. It's set to retail for 500 Yen (approximately £3.50 / $5.50). The 8-bit classic is one of the seminal side-scrolling fighters of all time, and is...
Tuesday29th Jan 2013
Still solid after all these years
It's hard to believe that it's been 25 years since the first Madden Football release, and given that the game has been released on pretty much every gaming platform imaginable over the years, it was pretty much a given we'd see a release on Nintendo's new console. While Madden NFL 13 on the Wii U has lost a bit of...
Feature Reimagining The Wind Waker on Wii U
The possibilities are exciting
Leaving Nintendo’s Space World presentation in 2001, few would have imagined that of all the games shown, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker would become a watershed moment for the company. Panned by some fans and critics alike for its cel-shaded look, the game has since arguably become a symbol of how to create a...
News You Can't Use Your Wii Virtual Console Saves With the Wii U Virtual Console
Quelle surprise!
Last week, Nintendo confirmed that the Wii U would be getting its very own Virtual Console service, allowing owners to play retro classics from yesteryear. If you're a longstanding Wii owner who likes to play NES, SNES and Mega Drive games, you may be wondering to yourself if all those hours of effort you put into The Legend of...
News Hyrule Historia Is The Number One Best Selling Book In The US
Beating all the fad diet books
Throughout the day we have noticed that many of you have been receiving your precious copies of Hyrule Historia, the fantastic art book dedicated to The Legend of Zelda franchise. We've been swooning over it here at NLife towers the moment it arrived, and we're sure you have been too. It comes as no surprise that the...
News The 90's Arcade Racer Speeds Closer to Wii U
Update hints at exciting developments ahead
A little over a week ago we told you about The 90's Arcade Racer, a project from one-man Greek developer Pelikan13 with the goal of creating a new experience inspired by classic arcade racers such as Daytona USA and Sega Rally. In order to get the project over the finishing line for a release this year the...
News So, How Is The Wii U Doing In The UK?
Could do better?
Although those who have purchased the Wii U - us included - are perfectly happy with the system, experts and analysts want cold, hard numbers to prove how well a new piece of hardware is doing. And sadly, in the case of the Wii U, those figure are a little on the depressing side. Eurogamer has conduced its own investigation into...
News Disney Confirms That Junction Point Has Been Closed
Warren Spector's studio closes its doors
It has emerged today that Junction Point Studios, the developer behind the Epic Mickey series, has closed its doors and in the process made its employees — of which there were around 160 in early 2012 — redundant. Rumours were circulating yesterday about the studio's demise, and now a Disney...
News Zen Studios Confirms Zen Pinball 2 Launch Tables
25 either bundled or on individual sale
Ahead of its release in Europe this week and its arrival "very soon" in North America, Zen Studios has published the list of day one content for Zen Pinball 2 on the Wii U eShop. As expected, with the format following that seen on other consoles — a free download with demos of tables and DLC packages —...
News Gunman Clive Update Now Available For Download In North America
Ironing out some glitches
Over the weekend one man developer Bertil Hörberg confirmed that an update for Gunman Clive was available to download in from the European 3DS eShop. North America fans were told the update would be on its way to them soon. Well, the North American 3DS eShop didn't have to wait very long for the update to grace it with...
Rumour Has Junction Point Hit A Dead End?
Troubling tales regarding Warren Spector's studio
Various reports have been circulating around the internet in the past couple of hours saying that Warren Spector's Junction Point has been suffering some problems, with the development studio being closed down by Disney. A tweet originating from Roberts Space Industries sparked the chatter, but it...
Monday28th Jan 2013
Review Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade (Wii U)
Obstacle to fun, maybe
If you were to poll gamers at large and ask them what they felt were the worst things about the Wii, chances are you'd hear "waggle" and "bad minigame collections" pretty frequently. In fact they often went hand in hand, and Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade is trying its hardest to make sure both of things carry...
News Charizard 3DS XL Will Be Available To Pokémon Daisuki Club Members
We'd choose it over Pikachu any day
In October we reported that Japan would be getting a very special treat in the form of a Charizard 3DS XL, but it would only be available through a lottery across Pokémon Centres in Japan. It has now been revealed that members of the Pokémon Daisuki Club in the Nintendo's homeland are being offered the...
Review Balloon Fight (Wii U eShop / NES)
Float on
To mark the arrival of the Virtual Console on the Wii U, Nintendo has launched a very generous promotion to mark the 30th anniversary of the Famicom (the Japanese version of the NES, in case you were wondering). What this promotion entails is the release of seven classic Nintendo games on the Wii U over a period of seven months for the...
Nintendo Download 31st January 2013 (Europe)
Pinball at last, downloadable Batman and a video
While there's a common saying — at least in the rainy old UK — that "when it rains, it pours", we're not sure that can be applied to the Nintendo Download this week. There's an eagerly anticipated release on the Wii U eShop — making it the second download-only release on the console in as many...
News XSEED Talks Wii Support And Why It Isn't Touching Retro Game Challenge 2
"Our love for the game blinded our business reasoning"
XSEED Games has a reputation for localising great Japanese-only titles for the west. The publisher has been very successful with its choices, with The Last Story becoming its most successful title of all time. Another highly-regarded title is Pandora's Tower, a game that has already made it to...
Review Cocoto Alien Brick Breaker (3DS eShop)
Devil vs Alien
In 2008 and 2009, Neko entertainment's would-be mascot Cocoto made two appearances on the WiiWare service. Cocoto Fishing Master and Cocoto Platform Jumper weren't total write-offs, but neither were they particularly impressive. They were competent but unmemorable dips into genres revealed by their titles. Cocoto Alien Brick Breaker...
Developer Interview Bertil Hörberg On Being a One Man eShop Developer
"I've always had a thing for Nintendo's portables"
The 3DS eShop — along with its online store predecessors on Wii and DSi — has attracted a number of small developers that would have likely remained anonymous in previous generations. The evolution of download gaming has transformed our consoles to include smaller, more diverse experiences at...
News Smash Bros. Melee Needs Your Help To Make It To EVO 2013
Donations required to secure final place in Las Vegas
EVO is the place to be if you're into competitive fighting games, and the 2013 event is scheduled to take place in July. Eight games will be making the trip to Las Vegas, with seven already decided upon. The organisers are opening up a donation run to decide the eighth and final entrant, and...
News ZombiU Writer Would Add More Melee Weapons If She Had The Chance
Up close and personal
No game is ever really perfect, and there are things that developers want to add with the benefit of hindsight. In the case of ZombiU, lead writer and story designer Gabrielle Shrager has admitted that if she had her way, she'd add in more melee weapons to spice things up a bit. Speaking to Game Informer, Shrager said: More...
News GAME Doubles Up On Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
Get both the 3DS and Wii U versions for a slightly reduced price in the UK
As you probably know, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is launching on two Nintendo systems this year - the 3DS and the Wii U. While the Wii U version offers online play, the 3DS edition has that all-important portable factor - something we can imagine is causing many potential...
News Travellers Tales: LEGO City Undercover "Would Definitely Lose Something On Other Platforms"
Developer gives reasons behind Wii U exclusivity
It's quite rare for a LEGO game of any kind to be exclusive to just one system these days. In recent years we've had games like LEGO Batman, LEGO Rock Band and LEGO Indiana Jones released on multiple platforms, and a short while ago we learnt that LEGO Marvel Super Heroes will be hitting
News Pinball Games Contribute to a Revival of Real Tables
A new generation is getting interested
While it's often easy for veteran gamers — some of which are part of the Nintendo Life team — to bemoan the loss of some video game traditions, there are occasions where modern trends are good for those with old-fashioned sensibilities. We see old titles given new life on download platforms, for example,...
News Gunman Clive Developer - Core Gameplay "Heavily Based on Mega Man"
Other big names also mentioned
Gunman Clive arrived at a budget price on the 3DS eShop just before Christmas and early in the New Year, depending on your region, and served up a slice of enjoyable retro-infused action. It's popped up in our news category courtesy of an update to resolve a few issues, but most notably for developer Bertil Hörberg's...
News Pokémon Black and White 2 Claims Top Spot for Japan in 2012
A year to remember for Nintendo's handheld business
Media Create, the most trusted source for the weekly hardware and software charts in Japan, has released details of the top selling games in the region for the whole of 2012. As anyone who follows our regular posts on the weekly Japanese chart will know, Nintendo's been having a good time in its...
Sunday27th Jan 2013
News Crystal Dynamics Explains Why Tomb Raider Isn't Coming To Wii U
One port that won't be happening
The Tomb Raider series is receiving a reboot in March when the aptly named Tomb Raider is released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. With the Wii U receiving plenty of ports since its release it was only natural for many to hope the latest Lara Croft game would be making an appearance as well. However with the...
Squids today...
While most people know Pixel's work from the excellent Cave Story, that's not the only game he's ever made, and exploring his lesser known titles can be a lot of fun in itself. Ikachan is one such title, released as freeware for the PC in 2000. That's four years before Cave Story, and you'll definitely see some overlap in terms of...
News Call of Duty: Black Ops II Patch On The Way
Should be available before the month is out
Activision has prepared a patch for Call of Duty: Black Ops II that should be released fairly soon, possibly before the end of the month. According to a forum entry posted earlier in the week, the publisher has submitted the patch to Nintendo where it is currently being tested. There's no set date yet on...
Impressions Brain Age: Concentration Training Demo
Fiendishly focused
Inspired by the work of famed neuroscientist Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, Nintendo's Brain Age games aim to keep players' minds sharp through daily mental exercises, and have proven popular since the DS original, Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!. The first 3DS entry in the series, Brain Age: Concentration Training focuses its...
Ninterview Australian Retro Gamer
Retro gaming from down under
The next subject in our Ninterview chair is a retro gaming fanatic from Down Under known as Australian Retro Gamer - or ausretrogamer, for short. We caught up with this internet phenomenon to quiz him on his love of all things retro and Nintendo. Nintendo Life: Who are you, and what do you do for a living? Australian...
Feature Nintendo at Sundance - Short Films, Brain Training and Wii Fit U
A trip to the movies
Once every year, the most creative minds in the film industry gather in Park City, Utah at the Sundance Film Festival to showcase their talents to celebrities and movie-goers alike. Not to be outdone, in an era where the line separating film and video games continues to blur, Nintendo of America joined in the fun to show off the...
News Copies of Bravely Default are Flying across Japan
Accompanied by fairies, too
Since its release in October 2012 in Japan, Bravely Default: Flying Fairy has been what can be considered a success, shipping 300,000 copies across Japan. Speaking with 4Gamer, Producer Tomoyo Asano revealed the figure, while saying he believes that at the end of the month the sales figures will equal those that shipped:...
News Silent Hill Producer Joins WayForward Technologies
Tomm Hulett leaves Konami for pastures new
A new director has been appointed at WayForward Technologies in the form of Tomm Hulett, the former Konami producer behind Contra 4, Rocket Knight and the more recent Silent Hill games. Konami and WayForward Technologies have worked together before, with the publisher releasing Silent Hill: Book of...
News Gunman Clive Update Now Available In Europe
Fixes crashes in stage 10 and other minor problems
Gunman Clive has been available on the 3DS eShop for a little over a month in Europe and it has already outsold its iOS counterpart. The game does have a few small glitches, however, and its creator Bertil Hörberg promised they would all be fixed in the new year. Well it seems Hörberg is coming...
Saturday26th Jan 2013
News Nintendo Reveals Specific Dates For Wii U Virtual Console Trial Campaign
Each of the seven games dated
During last week's information-packed Wii U Nintendo Direct, Satoru Iwata revealed there would be a special promotion coming to the Wii U eShop to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Famicon - the Nintendo Entertainment System in the West - called the Wii U Virtual Console Trial Campaign. The promotion will release a...
News Emergency Maintenance Scheduled for Nintendo Online Services on 28th January
Games and online stores affected
It's emerged that Nintendo is planning wide-reaching "emergency maintenance" in both North America and Europe, which is likely to include other PAL territories. This maintenance is running simultaneously and in a few windows in both regions, with the greatest peak time impact being to the Wii U, Wii, 3DS and DS...
Hardware Classics Game & Watch JR-55 - Donkey Kong II
A multi-screen masterpiece
Before the Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance and even the Game Boy, portable gaming was all about Nintendo's Game & Watch series. The brainchild of Nintendo engineer Gunpei Yokoi - who apparently came up with the idea after seeing a Japanese businessman playing around with his pocket calculator during his journey to work -...
News Ever Wondered What Downton Abbey Would Be Like As A SNES Game?
It's bizarrely enthralling
Have you ever been sat at home watching an episode of the popular British TV series Downton Abbey and thought 'you know what, they should make a game out of this'. Well who hasn't, and that's exactly what YouTube user Bill Kiley must have thought, as he has created a brilliant fake trailer for what would be a 16-bit Super...
News Puddle Given Release Date In North America
It'll be in the eShop before February
Water-based puzzle game Puddle has been making a splash in the Wii U eShop in Europe since the day the new system launched way back in November. North Americans, meanwhile, had their spirits dampened as they were forced to wait a little while longer for it. Information seemed to be drying up, but fortunately...
Friday25th Jan 2013
News Disney Infinity Will Have A New Game Released Every Year
Games will be forwards and backwards-compatible
Disney Interactive will be launching its ambitious Disney Infinity title this summer on pretty much every platform you can imagine, including Wii U, Wii and 3DS. The game allows the player to scan real-world toys into the environment and will feature characters from the Pirates of the Caribbean, The...
News 3DS Version Of Super Smash Bros 4 To Be Shown At E3
Joining its Wii U sibling
Masahiro Sakurai has revealed via Twitter that the 3DS version of Super Smash Bros 4 will appear alongside the Wii U edition at this year's E3 event. According to a rough translation, he said: Wii U and 3DS versions — I would like to show you both. The Wii U version of the game had previously been confirmed for a...
Feature The Big Wii U Direct Summary - 25th January 2013
All of the details in one place
Wii U Direct may have only been 35 minutes long, but it sure packed a lot into a short space of time, with a few extra details following in the press releases that followed. We certainly did our level best to cover everything revealed by Iwata-san in the broadcast, as well as information from Nintendo's regional...
News Bowser Is Officially The Greatest Video Game Villain Of All Time
The 'King of Koopas' is finally crowned
Guinness World Records asked gamers to vote for their top video game villains for inclusion in the 2013 edition of Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition, and it comes as no surprise to see Mario's nemesis of almost three decades take the top spot of the podium. With more than 5,000 readers voting in the...
News Satoru Iwata Announces 3DS Save Data Transfer Tool
Set for March release in Japan
In a short video update only released on the 3DS eShop in Japan, Satoru Iwata has confirmed that a 3DS Data Transfer Tool will be available in the region from March, which will allow for save data from retail cartridges to be transferred to retail download software. In practice, this may not be a tool used a great...
Feature Nintendo Life's View - Wii U Direct
Our team rather liked it
When Nintendo announced Wii U Direct earlier this week, there was a mixture of fevered optimism and slight negativity, with some predicting big reveals and others expecting little more than a few release dates and trailers. Even wording promising new Wii U games was met with caution by some, but there can be little doubt...
Review Mahjong Mysteries - Ancient Athena (3DS eShop)
Mah-tch two
We'll be honest, while some members of the Nintendo Life team are clever and cultured enough to know all about the intricacies of Mahjong, some of us have to consult Wikipedia to learn the rules. It shouldn't have surprised us, however, that when we opened Mahjong Mysteries - Ancient Athena the variation on offer was basically a single...
News Platinum CEO: Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts Restored My Faith In Games Development
Tatsuya Minami explains how the SNES classic helped him out of a rut
The latest Iwata Asks focuses on Japanese studio PlatinumGames, which is currently hard at work creating Bayonetta 2 for the Wii U. In the interview, Iwata chats with PlatinumGames President and CEO Tatsuya Minami about his development past, and uncovers an interesting piece of...
News THQ President: Lack Of Vigil Buyer Is A "Travesty"
There's still some hope for Darksiders
This week saw the sad end of THQ, as the publisher sold off its assets at auction and closed its doors for the last time. SEGA, Koch Media, Crytek, Take-Two and Ubisoft all gathered around for the sale, taking with them most of its IPs and studios. One development team that unfortunately didn't get picked up...
News Capcom Reveals Resident Evil Revelations Special Edition Bundle For Japan
It's all kinds of expensive
This week, Capcom revealed that it is set to release a revamped version of the previously "3DS exclusive" Resident Evil Revelations - Biohazard Revelations in Japan - this year for the Wii U. The company is currently putting together a flashy bundle for gamers in Japan - with a flashy price tag to match. Feast your...
News Game & Wario Is Hitting Japan March 28th
Mini game madness
Nintendo has confirmed that Wii U title Game & Wario will be coming to Japanese stores on March 28th. The US and European release dates have yet to be confirmed, but we'd imagine they won't be far behind. Game & Wario is the next instalment in the popular WarioWare series, and is made up of various mini games. You can...
News Atlus Lifts The Lid On Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers Box Set
A nice pre-order bonus
Last month we reported that Atlus is bringing Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers to North America on 16th April this year. Today, the publisher has revealed a nice little treat for true fans of the series who pre-order the game at participating stores: a limited edition box set conta
News Trine 2: Director's Cut Update Now Live In Europe
Download it while it's hot
Trine 2: The Director's Cut has been updated in Europe by developer Frozenbyte. Frozenbyte confirmed the update was coming when we spoke to them last year, and more recently stated that it should be arriving this month. We can confirm that the update is now live in Europe, as we've just downloaded it to our
News Zen Pinball 2 Release Date Arriving "Any Day Now"
Don't panic, it's still coming
Zen Pinball 2 developer Zen Studios has taken steps to assure fans that the Wii U version of the game is still on course for release. Originally expected back in December, the launch slipped to January - but there's still no sign of the game as yet. We know what you're thinking - delays of this kind can only mean one...
News FIFA Brand Passes £1 Billion in UK Sales
Mario is third, but results are only from 1996 onwards
When it comes to the UK software sales charts, FIFA is often King. While some like to pick on Nintendo's fairly regular entries from Mario, for example, FIFA is an annual affair that, from year to year, promises revolutionary improvements to shake up the series. FIFA 13 did represent a genuine...
News 99Moves Flying Onto North American DSiWare on 31st January
Watch that counter
After number-crunching retro-themed titles 99Bullets and 99Seconds, EnjoyUp Games will be continuing the DSiWare series with 99Moves. This title tasks you with flying through evolving and tight spaces, escaping from being crushed and minimising moves to avoid exceeding the limit of, as expected, 99. The publisher has now...
Thursday24th Jan 2013
News Wii U Virtual Console Games Support Wii Classic Controller And Pro Controller
Also supports the use of two GamePads
Details of the Wii U Virtual Console were finally announced during yesterday's Nintendo Direct, revealing that it will be up and running after a system update in Spring. Games purchased from the Wii U Virtual Console will be playable on the GamePad and Pro Controller as well as the Wii Classic Controller. You...
Rumour New Sonic Title Dashing To Wii U And 3DS
Announcement coming next month?
According to the chaps over at Sonic Stadium, Sega will reveal its plans for a new Sonic the Hedgehog game next month. A source close to Sega has dropped a few tasty hints to get chins wagging. The title apparently hasn't been decided yet, but the game will be coming to Wii U, PS3, 360, 3DS, PS Vita, PC and "next gen...
Nintendo Download 24th January 2013 (North America)
Fighting with balloons and guns, cave exploration, getting funky and more
It's Nintendo download time, North America, and this week brings you various goodies for your latest systems. The Wii U eShop features a new downloadable title that you probably spotted two days ago, the first Virtual Console release — sort of — on the system, and 3DS has...
Talking Point The Wii U Virtual Console Trial Campaign's Advertising Role
Simple but effective
Among the many announcements in yesterday's Wii U Direct, only one had an immediate impact on console owners, with the Wii U Virtual Console Trial Campaign launching right after the broadcast. Balloon Fight is now available to download with some Wii U-exclusive features — which we'll get to later — and the release schedule...
News Balloon Fight On Wii U Reportedly Running At 50Hz in Europe
Oh, Nintendo
So, Balloon Fight is available in exchange for some loose change right now on the Wii U eShop. That's good. The download in Europe is apparently continuing the trend seen on Wii and is running at 50 Hz. That's most definitely bad. For those of you outside of Europe and unaware, back in the old days — prior to the GameCube era —...
News Nintendo Details Multiplayer Mode In Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
Update: Nintendo releases footage
Last week we reported that Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon will include a multiplayer mode. Nintendo had done its best to keep the whole thing a secret until recently when multiplayer was listed as a feature on the game's official website. Confusion arose however, as the info bar along the side stated: "No. of Players: 1...
News Project X Zone Localisation Will Keep The Japanese Voice Track
Dig out your reading glasses
After a full-on day of Wii U focus thanks the Wii U Direct, let's give some love to 3DS and one of its hottest games due to arrive this summer. With Namco Bandai recently confirming its localisation, there are certainly a number of gamers looking forward to some RPG mash-up action in the upcoming Project X Zone; based on...
News Nintendo Comes Out On Top In Consumer Experience Poll
Beating Apple, Sony and Microsoft
A recent poll has seen Nintendo top the list for best customer service, outranking Apple, Sony, Samsung and Microsoft - among others. The findings were charted by Forrester, an independent market research firm that specialises in the tech sector. 7,500 US participants in the survey were asked: “How well did they...
News Platinum Games Is Interested In Acquiring The Darksiders Franchise
A match made in heaven?
Yesterday, we reported that THQ's time was up and the company's studios were being sold off to the highest bidders. One of the shocks of the process has been the fact that nobody has come forward to purchase Darksiders II studio Vigil Games. However, it would seem that there are interested parties out there. Platinum Games...
News UK Retro Computer Museum Is Moving To Larger Premises
Lend your support by donating to a noble cause
We're big fans of the Retro Computer Museum here at Nintendo Life - we've covered the charity's events previously, and heartily support the aim of preserving working examples of classic systems that everyone can enjoy and interact with. The museum has been running for some time now and regularly holds...
News 8 Bit Weapon Celebrates Over A Decade Of Chiptune Goodness With Chiptopia
New album features 16 classic cuts
If you know your chiptune, then you'll already be aware of the band 8 Bit Weapon. Comprised of Seth & Michelle Sternberger, the band creates music using retro gaming hardware - including the C64, Game Boy, NES, Amiga and several other vintage systems. The duo have launched a new album which celebrates more...
Wednesday23rd Jan 2013
It sure is dark in here...
We've been anticipating The Cave here at Nintendo Life Towers ever since it was announced. After all, it's a collaboration between two genuine legends of the industry. Firstly there's Ron Gilbert, whose work includes classics such as Maniac Mansion, the first two Secret of Monkey Island games, and 2010's repetitive but...
News Mario Kart Wii U Driving Into E3 This Year
Should be in gear and playable
In a reassuring segment of today's Wii U Direct, Satoru Iwata announced — in name if not footage — games that will be playing a bigger role later this year. One of these was a new Mario Kart entry, currently in development and, most importantly, planned to be playable at this year's E3. With an over-riding message...
News Wii U Virtual Console Trial Campaign Schedule Released
Seven classic games incoming over the next seven months
During today's Wii U Direct Satoru Iwata announced the Wii U Virtual Console Trial Campaign, which has been devised to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original Famicom. Eagle-eyed readers will note that the Virtual Console doesn't officially launch until after Spring, when the system...
News Nintendo Unveils The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD for Wii U
Sailing onto the system this Fall
During today's global Wii U Direct, a fantasy of many Zelda fans was revealed to be true, it was confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is being re-produced and released in HD on Wii U. It's targeted to hit the platform this Fall. As explained by Zelda head man Eiji Aonuma, the decision to re-master the...
Nintendo Direct Watch The Wii U Direct Presentation Live
We'll be watching with you
Today's Nintendo Direct presentation has a special title which should leave no doubt as to what the subject matter is going to be. "Wii U Direct" is going to be focused on new developments for Nintendo's newest home console, and will be hosted by Satoru Iwata himself. Tune in at 2PM GMT / 9AM EST to watch the...
News 3D Super Mario Title In Development For Wii U
Mamma mia!
Not only did we get spectacular news about a Wind Waker HD remake for the Wii U during the Wii U Direct broadcast today, we were also told that a new Super Mario title is currently in development for the console. The Nintendo EAD Tokyo Software Development team behind the incredible Super Mario Galaxy titles for Wii and popular
News Nintendo Shows Off Monolith Soft's Wii U Project
Looks like a Xenoblade sequel to us
Xenoblade Chronicles may have arrived fairly late in the Wii's life cycle, and endured a drawn-out release in the West, but it earned plaudits from gamers and boosted the profile of its developer, Monolith Soft. There's little surprise, in that case, that a particularly exciting reveal in today's Nintendo Direct...
News Nintendo Reveals Plans For Wii U Virtual Console
Games being coded from the ground up, will be playable on GamePad
The rumours were true - today, Nintendo confirmed its plans for the Wii U Virtual Console during the Wii U Direct presentation. Following a spring system update, the Virtual Console service will launch on the Wii U. NES and SNES games will be
News Nintendo Launches Wii U Virtual Console Trial Campaign Today
In celebration of the Famicom's 30th Anniversary
Following the announcement of the Wii U Virtual Console in today's Wii U Direct, Satoru Iwata went on to announce the Trial Campaign, which is to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original Famicom. Although the full Virtual Console doesn't officially launch until after the Spring system update,...
News Aonuma: Wii U Zelda Is All About "Rethinking Series Conventions"
Nintendo has something new planned for Link
Nintendo's Eiji Aonuma has given a few tantalising details regarding the all-new Wii U Legend of Zelda title during today's Wii U Direct. The game will be the second Zelda release for the new console, with an updated version of The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker coming later this year. No footage or screens...
Talking Point Wii U Direct - Tell Us What You Thought
Or just watch it again
So, Wii U Direct was quite a show from Iwata-san, wasn't it? While there's a tendency for gamers of all types to always want more, we feel confident in saying that Nintendo delivered plenty of announcements and news to intrigue and excite the majority. There were some genuine surprises in there, as well as big announcements...
News New Yoshi Title Being Developed By The Guys Behind Kirby's Epic Yarn
Warning: Beware of extreme cuteness ahead
During today's Wii U Direct broadcast, host Satoru Iwata revealed that the developer behind Kirby's Epic Yarn, Good Feel Inc, is hard at work developing a new title for the Wii U: Yarn Yoshi. This is the first console game to feature Yoshi as the main character since Yoshi’s Story for the Nintendo 64 way...
News RPG Mashup to Combine Fire Emblem and Shin-Megami Tensei
Atlus goes big time with Nintendo
Perhaps the least expected reveal during today's Wii U Direct was confirmation that Nintendo is currently developing an RPG in collaboration with Atlus. Although no title was given it'll combine the franchises of Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem, and as this was part of a global broadcast we can also be sure that...
Rumour Today's Nintendo Direct To Focus On Wii U Virtual Console
GameCube games also coming?
One of the biggest questions regarding Nintendo's online strategy for the Wii U revolves around Virtual Console releases, and how they're going to be made available on the new platform. Today's Nintendo Direct - which is focused on Wii U software and developments - could well be related to a Virtual Console announcement...
Rumour Flashback Remake Coming To Wii U eShop
1992 classic is getting a lick of paint
French action platformer Flashback is being remade for modern consoles, and rumour has it that a Wii U eShop edition is also on the cards. Originally developed for the Commodore Amiga by Delphine Software in 1992, the game combined 3D visuals with 2D platforming and quickly gained a cult following. Console...
News Wii U System Updates Due In Spring And Summer
Will improve overall system speed
The Wii U menu isn't exactly fast - we know that, and thankfully Nintendo does, too. During today's Wii U Direct, the company confirmed that two Wii U system updates will take place this year - one in the spring and another in the summer - with the aim of speeding up the overall system experience. According to...
News Wii U Party Will Get The Family Together This Summer
Party on Nintendo!
One of the new games revealed during today’s Nintendo Direct was Wii U Party (tentative title), which is heading to Wii U this Summer and is being developed by the same team behind the original Wii Party. It has been revealed that there will be a varity of gameplay styles on offer, and of course the GamePad will be taking...
News It's Real Life Mario Kart, That Works
Too cool
If any of you know any scientists or engineers, they may tell you on a regular basis that they really make the world go round, bringing us the cool gadgets that we take for granted. "Yeah, whatever", we may say in response, but our perspective in Nintendo Life Towers has just become a whole lot more appreciative. Some clever people from...
News Take a Pikmin's Eye View with Pikmin 3's Camera Mode
Shutterbug
Just what does life look like from a Pikmin's perspective? You're not going to have to wait long to find out — Pikmin 3 will include a camera mode to let you get right down to sub-ankle height and see the world in a whole new way. We still don't have a solid release date for the third Pikmin game, but a new function of the strategy...
News Game Over For THQ As Assets Are Purchased By Rival Publishers
Sega, Crytek, Take-Two and Ubisoft pick apart troubled company
2013 hasn't had the best of starts for veteran video game publisher THQ. After buying some time at the end of 2012, the firm slid into bankruptcy just a few days later and as the new year dawned found itself in the position of having its assets - the studios and IPs it owns, essentially...
News New Footage of Bayonetta 2 and The Wonderful 101 Emerges
"Direct" to you, in bite-size form
Today's Nintendo Direct was certainly busy, with lots to digest and footage bursting from every seam — almost literally in the case of Yoshi's upcoming adventure. Nintendo has therefore released some bite-sized segments of the broadcast, including two videos that cover the titles currently being developed by...
News Broken Rules "Had Higher Hopes" For Chasing Aurora
Next game should be coming to Wii U eShop, however
The dust has now settled on the Wii U launch, and it's the ideal time to take stock of what's happened and how software has performed in terms of sales. With this in mind, Chasing Aurora developer Broken Rules has admitted in an interview with Wii U Daily that the performance of the game didn't...
News CIRCLE Entertainment Details Its Upcoming Releases
DSiWare and a 3D WiiWare remake included
CIRCLE Entertainment has been one of the most active publishers on Nintendo download services, particularly DSiWare. Today the company has sent us details on its substantial list of upcoming releases, including some that are new announcements. First up is a new title on the way to the 3DS eShop, Witch &...
News Wii Fit U Gets Social With User Created Miiverse Communities
Get fit together
If you have over-indulged during the festive period and made a New Year’s resolution to get in shape, you will no doubt appreciate any encouragement you receive from friends and family to stay on track. During today’s Nintendo Direct it was announced that the upcoming Wii Fit U will let players create their own user communities...
Tuesday22nd Jan 2013
Rumour Pikachu 3DS XL Makes It To Chile, North America Is Next?
Chilean 3DS is the same used in North America
The spectacularly yellow limited edition Pikachu 3DS XL originally started off as a Japan-only system, but since then it's been on a bit of an adventure, making it over to European shores last December. It now appears to have found another home, with the system apparently being announced for pre-order...
News Satoru Iwata Tweets That Wii U Direct Will Be "A Bit Different"
Wording suggests a look at Nintendo-specific projects
Earlier today we brought you the news that Satoru Iwata is hosting a global Nintendo Direct Broadcast — Wii U Direct — tomorrow at 2PM GMT / 9AM EST. The press release and a subsequent tweet stated that new software and services for the home console would be on the agenda. Satoru Iwata, for...
News Resident Evil Revelations Set to Infest Wii U
Terrifies North America on 21st May, Europe on 24th May
Not long ago rumours spread around the web, like a virus we guess, that 3DS title Resident Evil Revelations was getting revamped for home consoles. Capcom has now issued a press release to confirm that the rumours were true, and thankfully Wii U is one of the platforms getting the re-boot. Set...
Talking Point The Trends and Inconsistencies of Localisation
Predicting releases is getting tougher
Yesterday brought the news that Project X Zone is being localised and released in PAL regions and North America this summer. To many that would arguably be a surprise, as the title has endured a relative failure in Japan, culminating in a major price-cut. Yet recent years have taught us that predicting...
News Wii U Direct Scheduled For Tomorrow
A look at new software and services for the Wii U console
Nintendo has today confirmed that a special "Wii U Direct - Nintendo Games" Nintendo Direct will be broadcast worldwide tomorrow (Wednesday 23rd January) and will be hosted by none other than Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. It's due to take place at 2PM GMT / 9AM EST. You can view the...
News Ralph Nader Targets Violent Video Games and Their Developers
Refers to "electronic child molesters"
After the shocking violence of the Sandy Hook massacre, a lot of political debate in the U.S. has focused on the implications of what happened, along with debates about existing gun laws and the potential causes of such violent behaviour. It's a complex issue with arguments about gun control and mental health...
News Here's What Happens When Game Boy Advance Games Invade The Real World
Seriously amazing animation
Ever wondered what it would be like to see your favourite Game Boy Advance titles spring to life and infiltrate reality? Perhaps not, but you're going to see it anyway - thanks to the efforts of The Pixel Kingdom. The animation below features characters from Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Golden Sun,
Out Now The Cave's Exploration Begins on North American Wii U eShop
You have to wait until Wednesday, Europe
It's the first new download-only release on the Wii U eShop in 2013, so we thought we'd remind those of you in North America that The Cave is now available for download in your region — no need to wait for the download update on Thursday. The full game is $14.99, while Europeans will have to pay €12.99 /...
News Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan Demo On The Way
Progress will be transferable to retail copy
The gorgeous looking Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan will be unleashed in North America on 26th February in both physical and downloadable formats. Atlus, the game's developer, has now revealed a demo will be heading into the 3DS eShop on 7th February - a good few weeks before the game launches...
News Scribblenauts Is Doubling Up On Nintendo DS
New bundle includes the two DS instalments
Warner Bros. is bundling together the first two Scribblenauts games - Scribblenauts and Super Scribblenauts - for the Nintendo DS in Scribblenauts Collection. Amazon's US site has a release date of February 26th. It's not currentl
News Nintendo Takes A Bite Out Of Euro Publishing Duties For Castlevania: Mirror Of Fate
Responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution
In a move which mirrors the agreement between Nintendo and Capcom in Europe, Nintendo and Konami have confirmed that they have entered into a deal which will see the former company handling the European (and Australian) distribution of the gothic 3DS adventure Castlevania: Lords of Shadow -...
News Australian 3DS eShop Gets New Region Specific Section
Great news for homegrown indie developers
Australian gamers have a new way to find and support indie developers from their home country, as the 3DS eShop Down Under — and throughout Europe as the "Developed in Australia" shelf — has been given a region-specific section listing all aussie-made games. There are currently 14 titles available in...
News HMV Debt Acquired by Hilco
Gift cards are being honoured once again
HMV, one of the UK's foremost entertainment media retailers in the UK, and by extension a major part of the video game presence on the high-street, has been in administration since last week. It's been announced today that the company's debt has now been acquired by Hilco, a retail restructuring firm that...
Monday21st Jan 2013
Review Rapala Pro Bass Fishing (Wii U)
Dead in the water
In attempting to craft a realistic fishing experience, Rapala Pro Bass Fishing got one thing exactly right: you'll be sitting around doing nothing for most of the time you play it. Unfortunately that's due to its almost insultingly lengthy load times, but we'll still give it some credit for unintentional verisimilitude. The...
Nintendo Download 24th January 2013 (Europe)
Update: The Cave arrives on 23rd January
It's time for news of this week's download updates in Europe and, at long last, it's time for Wii U owners to rejoice. There's a shiny new download-only game available on the Wii U eShop, along with a discount and retail release. A welcome and puzzling sequel arrives on 3DS, while DSi and Wii also receive new...
News Prepare To Be Jealous At This Amazing Nintendo Collection
Japanese collector Isao Yamazaki shows off his stunning haul
As we move towards a totally digital age, the attraction of collecting physical gaming media is going to become even more unusual - pretty soon, there will be kids who don't understand the concept of actually buying a physical cartridge. Thankfully, so long as people like Isao Yamazaki...
Review Riding Stables 3D (3DS)
How about a lovely horse?
One genre that absolutely feels underrepresented on the eShop is the pet sim. This is at least somewhat surprising, as the 3DS is not only portable, but it encourages gamers to take it with them everywhere, regardless of whether or not they intend to play anything. It accomplishes this through puzzle and Mii sharing, Play...
News This Homage To Sega's Classic Racers Could Be Speeding To The Wii U eShop
Rolling start?
During the '90s, Sega was the undisputed king of arcade racers. The Japanese coin-op veteran produced a string of solid-gold classics, such as Virtua Racing, Daytona USA, Sega Rally and Scud Race. Sadly, as interest in arcade hardware has dipped, the need for these attention-grabbing experiences has lessened - but there are few who...
News Gunman Clive Developer: 3DS eShop Is "Healthier" Than iOS
3DS version of Gunman Clive has outsold Its iOS counterpart
Gunman Clive recently made quite an impact on the 3DS eShop, earning a positive review from us and bagging some decent sales. You might assume however that the Nintendo version of the game trails its iOS and Android siblings quite badly - after all, the smartphone editions came out in...
News Project X Zone Fighting To a Worldwide Release This Summer
Crossing over from Japan
Project X Zone, the rather fabulous-looking crossover strategy-RPG featuring characters from SEGA, Capcom and Namco Bandai franchises, looked destined to be a Japan-only release, especially after underwhelming sales prompted a hefty price-cut. In surprising news, Namco Bandai has confirmed that the title is being localised...
News Maestro Interactive Games Bringing Super Ubi Land To Wii U eShop
Other projects also on the way
Notion Games, the developer behind Super Ubi Land, has teamed up with Maestro Interactive Games to bring the game to the Wii U eShop. Super Ubi Land is a fun little platformer that takes a lot of influence from such old-school titles as Donkey Kong Country and Super Mario World. Notion Games itself calls the game "a...
Reaction Gunman Clive Provides a Positive Example of eShop Success
A boost for controlled licensing
The video game industry is in the middle of, arguably, its most unstable period — the landscape is evolving almost too quickly to track. Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft are currently sticking to the course as constants, in general maintaining well-worn business practices while attempting to adjust to new challenges...
News Castlevania: Mirror of Fate Will Take About 16 Hours To Suck You Dry
And that's just the first playthrough
Worried about whether or not Konami's forthcoming 3DS epic Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate is going to have the staying power to keep you occupied when it launches in March? Well put your mind at ease because Konami producer Dave Cox has revealed that the game's first playthrough will take you...
Rumour eShop Developers No Longer Required To Have A Physical Office
Dan Adelman drops a hint on Twitter
One of the early rules put in place by Nintendo for developers on its digital platforms was the need for a physical office - a move which was no doubt intended to ensure a certain "quality" of developer. However, since the days of WiiWare the playing field has shifted - the number of professional coders migrating...
News Atari's U.S. Division Files For Bankruptcy
A bid for freedom from its parent company in France
While filing for bankruptcy in the U.S. is typically an act taken by companies in significant financial trouble, it's being adopted as an escape mechanism by the U.S. divisions of Atari. Atari Inc, Atari Interactive Inc, Humongous Inc and California US Holdings Inc have all collectively filed in...
News Neko Entertainment Discusses The Possibility Of Further Wii U Support
Games for 3DS not ruled out, either
Neko Entertainment released Puddle on the Wii U eShop in time for the launch of the the next generation console across Europe, and since then has been making quite a splash with gamers. It's only been over a month since its release, but that hasn't stopped Neko's QA Manager Sébastien Chipot-Delys discussing...
News Ikachan Swimming Into The 3DS eShop in North America Before February
Guxt also on the way
Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya, the developer behind the much-loved Cave Story, will have two new games in the 3DS eShop this quarter: Ikachan and Guxt. As with Cave Story, both games will be published by Nicalis - the same company behind VVVVVV. Ikachan sees you take on the role of a squid who swims through an underwater realm, looking...
Sunday20th Jan 2013
Feature What You Told Us About Wii U
Quite a lot, actually
Not long ago we published The Big Wii U Survey, as we asked you whether you owned a Wii U and, if you do, what you think about it. The response was terrific, with over 4,300 fully completed submissions being returned to us. As promised, below is a summary of what you told us, with some surprising statistics thrown in...
News Zen Pinball 2 Wii U Pricing to Match Other Platforms
$3 per table, or $10 for a four pack
Despite its delay from an original December release, Zen Pinball 2 is still very much on the radar for those eager for a new download on the Wii U eShop. It'll also be the first game on a Nintendo system to follow a structure of a free download accompanied by paid content. Naturally with a multi-platform...
News Nano Assault Neo Update Now Available
Fixes online ranking flags and GamePad disconnection issues
Arcade-style blaster Nano Assault Neo has been in the Wii U eShop since the console launched, and has been keeping plenty of people entertained ever since. The game wasn't perfect, however, as it had a few niggling issues that needed to be fixed; fortunately Shin'en Multimedia, the game's...
News Frozenbyte - Boxed Retail Release Of Trine 2: Director's Cut Is "A Possibility"
Seems unlikely, however
One problem with the Nintendo Network ID system is that you cannot currently transfer them between consoles. This of course means you can't nip over to your friend's house and sign in to your own NNID, and more crucially should anything happen to your Wii U you'll be reliant on Nintendo customer services to retrieve the...
Saturday19th Jan 2013
News Capcom Comments On Monster Hunter 4 Vita Rumours
Best not to believe everything you read
Not so long ago we reported on a rumour that was spreading like wildfire across the internet. According to Japanese magazine GameLab, the upcoming 3DS title Monster Hunter 4 hasn't been delayed for further quality enhancements - as Capcom has officially stated - it is in fact simultaneously being developed for...
Ninterview Cosplayer Regina "RikkuGrape" Marie
We speak to a seriously talented Zelda cosplayer
It's been a while since we ran a Ninterview, but we're back with our first of 2013. This time, we're speaking to cosplayer Regina Marie, better known as RikkuGrape. She's dressed up as a wide variety of different characters, but we're most interested in her amazing replications of individuals from The...
Feature Nintendo and Bond Through the Ages
A license to thrill
While film tie-ins are expected these days, few games can attest to having their origins found in novels, and fewer still can claim to have outgrown those origins and become a success in their own right. But that is exactly what the James Bond franchise has done. What initially began as a series of novels by Sir Ian Fleming,...
News Local Multiplayer Sneaks Up On Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
Um, what?
On each occasion that we've played Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, the demo on offer has been a single-player level. The prospect of multiplayer arrived before promptly disappearing way back in November 2011, with Nintendo listing multiplayer as a feature, before saying it was all a big mistake. Yet now we have the official site for the game,...
Friday18th Jan 2013
News Monster Hunter Tri Servers To Be Shutdown At the End of April
Go hunting on your own
As newer consoles and titles come along, it's inevitable that games with healthy online components have their support taken away, leaving what remains for gamers to pick over. Unfortunately that fate awaits Monster Hunter Tri, with the servers for the online co-op in the Wii title being taken down on 30th April. Described as...
Review Blaster Master (3DS eShop / NES)
Master of blasters
When it was originally released in Japan as Meta Fight, Blaster Master failed to make much of an impact. In the west, however, it was retooled slightly and given a new story about a boy and his pet frog, and became a cult classic that spawned multiple sequels - several of which ended up not even being released in Japan. On the...
News Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Getting A Demo In February
Monster Hunter Try
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate will be released on Wii U and 3DS in North America and Europe on 19th March and 22nd March respectively. The full game is expected to be available in the eShop at around the same time. Capcom has also revealed that a demo for the game will also be available to download for both the 3DS and Wii U versions...
Rumour Monster Hunter 4 Delay Is Due To PS Vita Port
We hope this isn't true
If we could give the "Rumour" prefix on this news story additional emphasis, then we would - because this one needs to be taken with a sizable pinch of salt. Japanese magazine GameLab is reporting that the delay of Monster Hunter 4 on the 3DS isn't due to quality improvements - as stated by Capcom - but because the game is...
Review Wild Adventures: Ultimate Deer Hunt 3D (3DS eShop)
Familiar Hunting Grounds
Do you remember last year when Outdoors Unleashed: Africa 3D was released on the 3DS eShop and it got people talking about the ethics of video games? Many were up in arms and offended by the idea of a game featuring the hunting of wildlife on an African safari, but that didn’t stop it from being a fun arcade shooter. Now...
News House Of The Dead: Overkill Studio Working On Secret Wii U Project
Unannounced title in development
UK studio Headstrong Games - the company behind House of the Dead: Overkill, New Art Academy, Battalion Wars 2 and Lords of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest - is working on an unannounced title for the Wii U. We know this because Headstrong Games Associate Producer
Talking Point The Blurred Lines of "Collectables" and On-Disc DLC
Are Skylanders and Disney Infinity pulling a Capcom, with toys?
Yesterday, before a maelstrom of date reveals and other news, the pricing emerged for Disney Infinity, which put parents and their bank managers on alert. It also instantly raised comparisons with the Skylanders series, now two games old, which despite differences in approach to the...
Developer Interview Fuzzy Wuzzy Games Talks Armillo And Developing For The Wii U eShop
Rolling ever onwards
Yesterday we exclusively broke the news that Fuzzy Wuzzy Games' Armillo is coming to the Wii U eShop. Keen to know more about the development and history of this interesting title, we sat down with James Saito and Yanni Fyssas for a little chat. Nintendo Life: Can you give us a bit of information on your respective backgrounds...
Book Review Sega Arcade Classics Volume 1
To be this good takes ages
Those of you that like retro gaming will no doubt have already heard of the site Hardcore Gaming 101. Run by a team of super-knowledgeable and keen gaming enthusiasts, HG101 is bursting with content relating to vintage games and franchises. The site was founded by Kurt Kalata, who is the driving force behind Sega Arcade...
News Sony and Kevin Butler Actor Settle Lawsuit Over Wii Appearance
No more Mario Kart Wii for Jerry Lambert
Last year we reported the peculiar news that Sony was taking 'Kevin Butler' actor Jerry Lambert to court over an appearance in a Bridgestone advert in which he was part of a Wii promotion. The Kevin Butler character was, for a significant period, the figurehead of Sony's advertising for PlayStation 3 and...
News Frozenbyte Hopes To Release Trine 2 Update This Month
The Australia and New Zealand release, too
Late last year Frozenbyte told us that an update for Trine 2: Director's Cut would arrive before the Holidays, providing improved graphics, Wii U Pro Controller support and voice chat. As the eagle-eyed among you undoubtedly noticed a while ago, that didn't happen. The developer has now published a video...
Thursday17th Jan 2013
Review Beetle Adventure Racing! (Nintendo 64)
Infested with Bugs
These days, considering most of us have become accustomed to the smooth frame rates and high definition resolutions provided by modern consoles, revisiting the Nintendo 64 can sometimes be a painful experience as you may find that some of your favourite games haven’t aged very well. Fuzzy textures, choppy frame rates and limited...
News Fire Emblem: Awakening Features Both English And Japanese Voice Tracks
One language or another
It has been highlighted that the upcoming US version of Fire Emblem: Awakening features both English and Japanese audio tracks. Our very own Jon Wahlgren - who is currently hidden away reviewing the game for you lovely readers - can confirm this option is available. It hasn't been confirmed if the option to choose the...
News LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins Confirmed For 3DS
The chase actually begins on 21st April
While there's been plenty of information and footage for LEGO City: Undercover on Wii U, the open-world title that offers a potential blend of block-based madness and GTA, all has been silent on the announced 3DS equivalent. Nintendo's now confirmed that 3DS isn't getting a stripped back equivalent, but a...
News Fuzzy Wuzzy Games Is Rolling Armillo Onto The Wii U eShop
Former XNA title now heading to Nintendo's machine
Fuzzy Wuzzy Games has exclusively revealed to us that it is bringing Armillo to the Wii U eShop this year. The game was previously in development for the XNA platform with a view to release on Xbox Live Arcade, but Fuzzy Wuzzy Games has now shifted focus to the Wii U, having created a very...
Nintendo Download 17th January 2013 (North America)
Tokyo mobs, stacking stars and a free awakening
It's download time again, which means more downloadable goodies for your Nintendo systems — well, two of them. In what feels like a rare occurrence, there's no DSiWare to be found, with five options on the 3DS eShop and a video app for Wii. Nintendo's latest console misses out, but then again we know...
News Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon Scares Its Way Onto The 3DS March 24th
A new spooky adventure
Nintendo of America has announced the much anticipated release date for Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon will make its way across the US on 24th March, with Luigi travelling through more mansions and scooping up some more ghosts with his upgraded Poltergust 5000. Hopefully European gamers won't have much...
News Nintendo of America Outlines Upcoming Q1 eShop Releases
There are even dated Wii U eShop titles
Nintendo of America has issued details on a number of upcoming games on the way to North America in the next few months. While there aren't necessarily any real surprises, we have a few solid dates. The headline news for the Wii U eShop is the confirmed release date of Ron Gilbert's The Cave, a platform...
News Get A Load Of These Awesome Custom Nintendo Consoles
Making old things new again
What do you do when a console reaches the end of its lifespan and is replaced by newer, more powerful systems? You give it a fresh lick of paint, of course. That's exactly what Zoki64 has done. This talented artist has taken custom paint jobs to the next level, transforming N64, Super Nintendo and Game Boy Advance...
News Wii U Advert Banned In The UK
ASA concluded it was "misleading"
A few weeks before Wii U launched in the UK, Nintendo ran an advert showing off a few of the new system's features. One of the elements displayed was the ability to switch the action from the television to the GamePad – the advert showed how a gamer allowed his girlfriend to watch TV while he happily played New...
News Still No Solid Release Date For Aliens: Colonial Marines On Wii U
Due out "in launch window"
Sega has confirmed that Aliens: Colonial Marines has "gone gold" (meaning it's finished and ready for production) on 360, PS3 and PC, but has stated that the Wii U version isn't quite ready yet. According to Eurogamer: We asked Sega what was going on. The publisher told us the Wii U version is due out in the Wii U...
News Disney Infinity Pricing Emerges
Warn the bank manager
We can imagine a tired old Executive at Activision in late 2011, working through yet more paperwork and then coming across sales figures for the experimental Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure, a game where the publisher was boldly asking parents and enthusiasts to buy the game and a load of toys. Their eyes would have widened,...
News New Club Nintendo Reward In The Form Of A Yoshi Cleaning Cloth
Will cost you 400 coins
North American Club Nintendo members have a new addition to their catalogue - a Yoshi Cleaning Cloth, costing you 400 of your precious coins. The 6x6 green polkadot polyester cloth features our favourite dinosaur, and there's only a limited quantity of these on offer. So like our green friend, you best stick your tongues out...
News Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Taking A Bite Out Of 3DS And Wii U On March 19th
Back for seconds three days later in Europe
Capcom and Nintendo have confirmed that Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate will be released in North America on March 19th. The game will be available on both the Wii U and 3DS. Europe will have to wait just three days longer to get its hands on the epic title. Downloadable versions are also expected to be made...
Talking Point The Future Role of High Street Games Retailers
Tough times ahead?
The past twelve months have shown just how volatile the current market is for retailers. With the global recession taking its toll, several high street businesses are finding it difficult to compete. This week alone saw both HMV and Blockbuster slip into administration in the UK, putting thousands of jobs at risk. Video game...
News ZombiU Now Populated By Over 300,000 Undead Players
Back from the dead
We reported earlier that Ubisoft is open to the idea of more ZombiU games - which is good news of fans of the Wii U launch title. However, this might come as slightly less positive news to the 300,000 players who have already fallen foul of the game's stern difficulty level and nerve-shredding atmosphere. In the same interview...
News Two New Assassin's Creed III DLC Packs Available Now
The Tyranny of King Washington on the way
Assassin's Creed III has been out on Wii U since the day the console launched. It represented the first time a game from the Assassin's Creed franchise made it onto a Nintendo home console alongside the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions. Ubisoft was quick to make it known that the Wii U version would be...
News Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 Is Download-Only In North America, Too
Following Europe into digital realms
Last week, we revealed that Wii U slugfest Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 would be only available as a digital download in Europe. Today, we've been told that the game will adopt the same distribution platform for North America. That means that Japan is only region to get a physical copy of the game -...
News Brain Age: Concentration And Sonic & All-Stars Racing Release Dates Revealed
Two new 3DS big-hitters get dated for the US
We love days like today, when Nintendo springs upcoming release dates on us and we all have to think of how far we're going to have to dig into our pockets for some cash. You'll have to update your purchase plans - again - as Brain Age: Concentration Training (also known as Dr Kawashima's Devilish Brain...
News Zen Pinball 3D DLC Still In The Works
Wii U version will get a release date soon
Zen Pinball 3D has been out for over a year in both North America and Europe, and the game's developer, Zen Studios, has been working on some additional DLC for it - however it hasn't been mentioned in a number of months. Those worried that the DLC has been cancelled can now breathe a large sigh of relief,...
News Need For Speed: Most Wanted Screeching On North American Wii U Consoles March 19th
Update: New Wii U exclusive features detailed
EA's popular racing title Need For Speed: Most Wanted will be hitting the Wii U in North America on March 19th. This is just a short while after the Japanese launch, which is due to occur on the 14th of the same month. The game was originally launched on PS3 and 360 last year, and met with a positive...
Wednesday16th Jan 2013
News Ubisoft Open To The Idea Of ZombiU Sequels
A frightening franchise?
Wii U launch title ZombiU seemed to divide critics across the globe, but we thought it was pretty darn special - so much so that we've got all of our fingers and toes crossed that a sequel eventually goes into development. It would appear that the guys at Ubisoft are equally keen to see the game turn into a fully-fledged...
News Disney Infinity Developer Would Like to Include Star Wars And Marvel
No decision made as yet
Yesterday Disney Interactive revealed that Disney Infinity — possibly its most ambitious project yet — would be coming to Wii U, Wii and 3DS this summer, as well as mobile devices and other platforms. The game allows the player to bring real-world toys to life by scanning them into the game in the same way that...
News Epic Mickey Future In Doubt After Sequel Falls Short In Sales
Epic Mickey 2 only sold 270,000 copies to the original's 1.3 million
Let's face it, Epic Mickey 2 was something of a critical disappointment. After the promise of the first game, we had high hopes that the follow-up would be even better, but as our Epic Mickey 2 Wii U review shows, it was a bit of letdown. It would seem that the poor reaction has...
News Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Receiving Day-One Keyboard Update
Chat to your heart's content
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is already pre-occupying plenty of gamers in Japan; it was released in The Land of the Rising Sun on Wii U launch, joining its 3DS cousin. The West will get hold of the game, both in the home console and portable variety, at some point in March 2013. A lot of people have been wondering whether...
News Pandora's Tower Finally Heading To North America
Will be available spring 2013
Japanese action RPG Pandora's Tower has been available in Europe since April 2012, and no news was ever heard regarding a North American localisation - until now. It looked as though the critically acclaimed Wii game had slipped through the net, but localisation specialist XSEED Games has revealed it has picked up the...
News Nintendo Unifying Handheld and Console Divisions in Business Restructure
$340 million being invested in a new development facility
While many of us focus exclusively on our latest Nintendo consoles and what games are coming up, it's easy to forget that Nintendo's a rather large corporation that's always evolving and seeking a business edge. While it may crush any perceptions that Nintendo's facilities are populated by...
News Activision On Disney Infinity: We're Flattered
But still "well positioned" to remain on top
Last night, Disney announced its own take on the Skylanders "toys to life" concept: Disney Infinity. It hasn't taken long for Skylanders publisher Activision to react to the news, with John Coyne, Vice President of Consumer Marketing, telling Forbes: We are thrilled by the incredible success that the...
News "All The Bravest" Square Enix Trademark Was for iOS Game, Not Bravely Default Localisation
Darn
Late last year it emerged that Square Enix had trademarked the name "All The Bravest" and purchased a number of related web domains, which prompted excitable rumours that it could be an indication of a much-desired localisation of 3DS title Bravely Default: Flying Fairy. Unfortunately that dream has been crushed — which seems to be standard...
News Capcom Bringing Retail 3DS Games to the eShop
The collection grows
The 3DS eShop has evolved a fair bit in a little over a year and a half, with a fresh layout, demos, and retail downloads all arriving since its humble launch. It's the latter that's arguably the most intriguing, as it clashes with Nintendo's traditional support for high street retail partners, while prompting ire among some due...
News 3DS Maintains Dominance of the Japanese Charts
Wii U slips just behind PlayStation 3
The latest round of sales results from Japan, covering the period from 7th to 13th January, give us an early indication of sales levels in the region after the boosted business of the Holiday season. They tell a mixed tale, with 3DS still ruling the roost and Wii U scrapping it out within the main pack. In...
Interview Curve Studios' Jonathan "Bidds" Biddle
We speak to the developer who’s making quite a splash
One development studio that has made a valiant contribution to Nintendo’s digital download services is undoubtedly Curve Studios. Having first released Hydroventure for WiiWare to much critical acclaim back in 2010, the development team has recently returned to its original idea and expanded...
Feature A Tour of the Two Tribes HQ
Going behind the scenes
With its upcoming Wii U eShop release of Toki Tori 2, as well as plans to port a couple of existing titles to the console's download platform, developer Two Tribes has a lot of work on its plate. Despite that the team has been kind enough to produce the following exclusive tour of its HQ, giving an insight into the size of...
News The Sundance Festival and Red Carpet Are Calling For Mario
Nintendo's going to the movies
The Sundance Film Festival is one of the best-known and prestigious events of its kind in the film calendar, with events, screenings and prize-giving being given gloss by plenty of celebrities and successful actors. After Nintendo UK's short-film partnership with the British Film Institute (BFI) last year it's now...
News Blockbuster UK Joins HMV In Administration
UK games retail suffers its second blow in the space of a week
This week, HMV - the UK's last major high street entertainment retailer - slid into administration after suppliers declined to help the ailing chain, putting around 4,350 jobs at risk. The bad news for UK retail doesn't end there, however - Blockbuster UK has also announced its...
Tuesday15th Jan 2013
News Fire Emblem: Awakening Download Takes Up Almost 8,600 Blocks
It's set to be a blockbuster
Strategic RPG Fire Emblem: Awakening will be unleashed on the 3DS in North America from 4th February, and will be available in both physical and downloadable form. If you're looking to download a copy from the 3DS eShop you'll need 8,579 available blocks on an SD card - that's slightly over 1GB. This figure is quite...
Review Tokyo Crash Mobs (3DS eShop)
Almost at the front of the queue
Although many people assume that Zuma was the first game to feature match-three marble shooting, the honour actually goes to Puzz Loop, a 1998 arcade release by Pang creator Mitchell Corporation. Sequels on the DS and WiiWare have since followed, and now there’s a fresh entry in the series on the 3DS eShop - not...
News Club Nintendo Accounts Can't Be Linked To The Wii Shop On Wii U
"Certain system constraints" punishing gamers
As you may already be aware the Wii U eShop can be linked up to your Club Nintendo account. This means that when you purchase a game it is automatically registered and you may become eligible for surveys, which allow you to earn some coins. However it appears that games bought from the Wii Shop — via...
News Disney Infinity Heading to Wii U, Wii and 3DS This Summer
Golly, that's a lot of platforms
Late last year details emerged of Disney Infinity, a title that incorporates real-life figurines and a portal concept made popular by the Skylanders series, while adding a great deal of customisation and a sandbox environment to encourage freedom and experimentation. Disney Interactive has now unveiled a host of new...
Talking Point Wii U's Beginnings and Challenges For 2013
Convincing sceptics is one
Recent sales figures and industry conversations have given us a fair old glut of analytical articles focused on Wii U in recent days. For a system that's barely a couple of months old, there's been a temptation in some quarters to either predict doom and a major loss of market share, or to put faith in Nintendo's...
News Injustice: Gods Among Us Coming To Wii U In April
Wii U version misses out on Collector's Edition
Injustice: Gods Among Us is a heroic beat-em-up featuring a host of characters from the DC universe, and is on its way to Wii U as well as PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Warner Bros. has now revealed the game's release dates: 16th April in North America and 19th April in Europe. The fighter does have a...
News How Did GameStop's 500,000 Wii U Reservations Become 320,000 Actual Sales?
GameStop explains the math behind its sales figures
Before the Wii U launched, US outlet GameStop proudly stated that half a million people were on its waiting list for the shiny new console. However, speaking to investors last week, GameStop admitted that only 320,000 consoles were actually sold by the chain - which means 180,000 "orders"...
News Anima: Gate Of Memories Coming To Wii U eShop
Another Kickstarter campaign is successful
Spanish developer Anima Project Studio - the team behind the WiiWare title ANIMA: Ark of Sinners - has announced that its next project is coming to the Wii U eShop. Anima: Gate of Memories has recently passed its Kickstarter goal of $90,000, bringing in $110,664. The title will initially see release on PC...
News Pokémon Video Game Winter Regional Championships Begin This Sunday
A special Cloyster up for grabs
This Sunday thousands of dedicated Pokémon trainers will flock to several host cites with their copies of Pokémon Black and White Version 2 to attend the Pokémon Video Game Winter Regional Championships. The tournament will see competitors from three different age divisions battle it out for the title of Pokémon...
News Shin'en Confirms Jett Rocket II - The Wrath of Taikai
Going a bit Star Trek
Yesterday we brought you the news that the 3DS sequel to WiiWare title Jett Rocket was confirmed to be nearly finished and on the way "early this year", good news for those who'd wondered about its fate for much of 2012. With that happy news confirmed, developer and publisher Shin'en Multimedia has now clarified the title for...
News Amazon Instant Video App Hits The Wii Today In North America
Nice and simple
Amazon has announced today that its video streaming service, Instant Video, has launched today for Wii consoles across the US. The app can be found in the Wii Shop Channel, and subscribers of the service will gain access to over 145,000 movies, TV shows and documentaries. Prime customers are able to watch over 30,000 of these videos...
News Price Revealed For ATV Wild Ride 3D On 3DS eShop
$7.99, by the way
Renegade Kid has been on your news feed a lot lately, and for good reason. From revealing Mutant Mudds Deluxe for the Wii U eShop at the start of this month, to announcing that it is working on a new FPS title for the eShop in the first issue of Nintendo Force magazine — this year looks like a busy one for the developer...
News Renegade Kid Will Definitely Be Developing More Games For Wii U
Mutant Mudds Deluxe is just the beginning
Mutant Mudds Deluxe is heading to Wii U in the first quarter of this year and it appears Renegade Kid, the game's developer, enjoyed making the game so much it will be making more Wii U titles in the future. Speaking in an interview with Official Nintendo Magazine, Renegade Kid's co-founder Jools Watsham...
News Evidence Indicates Wii Fit Is Beneficial For Children With Movement Difficulties
Some positive press attention for gaming, for a change
A UK-based pilot study has uncovered evidence that using Wii Fit could aid the development of children with movement difficulties. The study is a collaboration between Sussex Community NHS Trust, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust and academics at Goldsmiths, University of London and Oxford...
News UK Retailer HMV Set To Go Into Administration
4,350 jobs at risk
HMV is the latest high street casualty in the UK. The music, DVD and video game retailer is to appoint an administrator, putting around 4,350 jobs at risk. The company has been in a financial mess for more than a year now; in December share prices plummeted after it warned it could breach bank loan agreements. The retailer...
Monday14th Jan 2013
News Pokémon X & Y Catch More Official Artwork and Details
More images and legendary dimensions, of course
At the weekend we posted a feature titled Pokémon X & Y - What We Know So Far, with an assumption that the initial burst of images and concept art was over and that the dust would settle. The Pokémon Company isn't done yet, however, revealing new images and details for us all to absorb. The...
Review Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2013 (Wii U)
The hunt is on?
Maybe we're just gullible human beings here at Nintendo Life Towers, but we expected Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2013 to feature some...you know...hunting. Not that we're disappointed, as this far more action-oriented approach has undoubtedly made for a better game, but the FPS / survival approach certainly caught us off guard. So,...
Review Reel Fishing 3D Paradise Mini (3DS eShop)
A bassing fancy
Natsume might be most famous as the house that Harvest Moon built, but fishing fans will know the name from its Legend of the River King and Reel Fishing series. Reel Fishing takes a more realistic approach to the angling action, and saw several installments on WiiWare with decidedly mixed results. Reel Fishing 3D Paradise Mini...
News Wii U Software Sales Are "Struggling"
Analyst states Wii U launch games have failed to match Wii and GameCube equivalents
Last week NPD figures — which cover U.S. retail results — were published covering 25th November to 29th December, and Nintendo of America issued a few facts and figures of its own in response to them. The figures showed that Wii U had performed pretty well since...
Nintendo Download 17th January 2013 (Europe)
Crashing mobs, mysterious mahjong, more zombies and basketball
It's another week of download news for Europe, this time arriving just in time to brighten up our Mondays. This week covers every platform; the 3DS receives a wacky match-three puzzle game as well as something a little more conventional, zombies infest DSiWare and the home consoles bring...
News Satoru Iwata: Customers Understanding The Wii U "Will Take a Little Time"
"We aim to leave a smile on our customer's faces"
With a New Year and Nintendo's upcoming announcement of its Q3 financial results, Satoru Iwata and his team have plenty to think about. 2013 will be an important year to continue momentum on 3DS with big releases, and more importantly to grow the Wii U audience as much as possible. Speaking to...
Developer Interview Zen Studios On Portable Pinball Success And Wii U
The pinball wizards have more to come
Zen Studios is an experienced indie developer that, despite its varied projects, is possibly best known for its pinball games. It's a team that wasn't entirely unfamiliar with Nintendo hardware in past generations — it developed Ghostbusters: The Video Game for DS — and it's become best known to fans of the...
News Ultra-Rare Tengen Tetris Prototype Up For Auction
An important relic of video game history
Tengen Tetris is one of the rarest, if not the rarest, NES cartridges out there. It was released way back in 1989 but after only a month on the shelves, unsold copies of the game were recalled - a shame considering many felt it was the better version of the game due to its improved graphics and two-player...
News Analyst Firm Concerned That Wii U Will "Lack Broad Appeal"
Believes Sony and Microsoft successors are due this year
Last week saw the annual tech hoopla of Consumer Electronics Association (CES) 2013, with a number of gadgets such as the Nvidia Project Shield handheld unveiled. Although not all major technology companies were in attendance, it was an opportunity for various contacts to be made and for...
News Renegade Kid's Upcoming FPS Will Focus On Single Player
More info coming in March
Last week Jools Watsham, co-founder of Renegade Kid, revealed more about what we'd find in the upcoming Wii U eShop title Mutant Mudds Deluxe. He also spoke of a new 3DS project: a first-person shooter that will hopefully be released in time for this Christmas. Watsham has since taken to Twitter again to answer people's...
News Zen Studios: Wii U eShop is an "Amazing Development for Nintendo"
"The doors are wide open for other small studios"
Best known for its pinball titles — though it has dabbled in other genres — Zen Studios earned a starring role in the final Nintendo Direct broadcasts of last year when Zen Pinball 2 was announced for the Wii U eShop. Initially expected in December, it's been pushed back from that original target...
News Jett Rocket 3DS Surfing Onto The eShop "Early This Year"
Shin'en keeps the pace
Remember Jett Rocket on WiiWare? It arrived a good while ago — summer 2010 — and brought a short but sweet 3D platforming adventure to the platform, which despite the odd flaw earned an impressive 8/10 in our Jett Rocket review. After various rumours we then learned of a new entry coming to the 3DS eShop, Jett Rocket Super...
News Gunman Clive Soundtrack Goes On Sale
Yours for $1
Gunman Clive is a recent budget-priced arrival on the 3DS eShop, and despite some reported bugs — which we didn't experience ourselves — it's earned a fairly positive response so far. With a development team of two and previous releases on smartphones, PC and Mac, it's a title that's earned some success from modest beginnings. Not...
Sunday13th Jan 2013
Safe, but solid
We've seen a wide variety of shoot 'em ups on the DSiWare service, some obviously better than others. Galaxy Saver is the newest entry and takes quite a few influences from early arcade shooters, while tossing in a few twists in an effort to make the experience stand out. So while there might not be a lot of originality when it comes...
Review 101 DinoPets 3D (3DS eShop)
Di-no-thanks
When you first boot up 101 DinoPets 3D you're greeted with an introduction that sees you finding an abandoned dinosaur hatchling on your front porch. If you're anything like us, this will fill you with excitement about how much potential for fun this concept has. Then again if you're anything like us that excitement will soon disappear...
News Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 Will Be Download-Only In Europe
Becomes first ever download-only Wii U retail title
Tecmo Koei’s Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 is a 3D fighter that has you beating your way through countless hoards of enemies. The game is based on the popular manga series Fist of the North Star, which has been running in one form or another since 1983. The game is set to be released on...
News Platinum Games' Hideki Kamiya: Bayonetta eShop Release Down To SEGA Or Nintendo
Remains a possibility
Last year during a Wii U preview video we learnt that Bayonetta, a highly regarded action title released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, was getting a sequel that would be exclusive to Wii U. Bayonetta 2 is being developed by Platinum Games with the help of Nintendo's producers so it's very unlikely it will appear on other...
News Zero Escape Director Craves Mainstream Recognition
Ideals remain due to "very humbling" support from fans
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward is one of the most unique experiences currently available on 3DS, serving a role well fulfilled by its predecessor — 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors — on DS. Part of its appeal, as shared by many of its strongest advocates, is its strength of...
News Warcraft-Loving Canadian Almost Becomes The King Of Kong
Vincent Lemay just 2,700 points shy of Hank Chien's record
There are plenty of vintage video games out there which tempt modern-day players to accomplish a record-breaking score, but Nintendo's Donkey Kong seems to get more attention than most - thanks largely to the amazing 2008 documentary film King of Kong, which charted the titanic battle...
News ATV Wild Ride Trailer and Details Race Onto The Scene
Details of tracks, modes and online multiplayer tweeted
Renegade Kid may be the darling developer for some Nintendo download enthusiasts that like a bit of retro action-platforming — yep, Mutant Mudds — but it's easy to forget that it's an experienced studio that releases games in a variety of genres. One such example is ATV Wild Ride 3D —...
Saturday12th Jan 2013
Feature Pokémon X & Y - What We Know So Far
Let's summarise
Earlier this week, through an aptly titled Pokémon Direct, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata brought the news that Pokémon fans had been waiting for; a new generation main-series entry on the system. Pokémon X & Y will — like its predecessors — be released in two separate flavours, but with the developers choosing letters as...
News Ubisoft: Wii U Power Meant No Limitations For Rayman Legends
Rayman creator lavishes Wii U with more praise
Rayman creator Michel Ancel has had nothing but positive things to say about Wii U since he’s been working with the new system. In previous interviews he has noted that Nintendo’s new home console is “surprisingly powerful” and that Ubisoft could really focus on making its latest game, Rayman...
News Mutant Mudds Deluxe Details Revealed
Renegade Kid working on a 3DS eShop FPS
As previously teased, details about the upcoming Mutant Mudds Deluxe have been revealed in the début issue of Nintendo Force magazine. In addition to all of the content on the 3DS title, including the Grannie levels DLC, there'll be 20 new "parallel universe" stages with a ghostly theme, which will include...
Friday11th Jan 2013
News Didn't Pick Up The Pink 3DS XL? Hard Luck
Strictly limited edition, according to Nintendo
Late last year, Nintendo released the Pink / White 3DS XL in North America as a limited edition. The system was clearly something of a hit with consumers, as it has since sold out - and if you missed the chance to pick one up, it looks like your only hope now is to purchase a pre-owned model...
Review Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two (Wii U)
Port by numbers
Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two should, on paper, be an excellent game. The original Wii-exclusive title showed a great deal of promise but flawed execution, so optimistic logic suggested that the sequel would resolve those issues and build on the strengths found in that début, making some Disney fans very happy. Not only...
News Nintendo of America Confirms Fire Emblem: Awakening 3DS Bundle
The game will come pre-installed
We reported earlier on a rumour circulating that a special 3DS bundle for Fire Emblem: Awakening was on the way to North America. The speculation sparked off after a full page advertisement for the strategic RPG was found in the latest issue of Game Informer, which showed a bundle not too dissimilar to the one Japan...
News New Sonic Fan Film Receives Mixed Reception, But At Least Yuji Naka Likes It
You can't please everyone
When you set out to make a film about a character as beloved as Sonic the Hedgehog, there's little room for error. Sonic fans are notoriously picky and will jump on the smallest mistake, regardless of how hard you work. That's ultimately what has happened to Blue Core Studios, a video production team which has created a 18...
News Nintendo Announces 890,000 Wii U Sales in U.S. Launch
Higher revenues than Wii launch, 3DS has over 1.25 million sales in Holiday period
Nintendo of America has issued a series of facts and figures for its Holiday period performance in the U.S., following publication of the latest NPD figures that cover 25th November to 29th December. There were some solid results and, perhaps most importantly, decent...
News This Trio Of New Games Proves That The NES Is Alive And Kicking
Old consoles never die
Nintendo has just released the Wii U, the latest in a long line of systems which stretches back over four decades. However, that doesn't mean that the company's first home console - the NES - has been entirely forgotten. Amazingly, software is still being produced for the 8-bit wonder, and Wired has dug up three entirely new...
Rumour Fire Emblem: Awakening Bundle Coming To North America
Comes with a glorious special edition 3DS
Yesterday we reported that a demo for the highly anticipated strategic RPG Fire Emblem: Awakening will be made available to download from the North American 3DS eShop on 17th January. The game itself will launch on 4th February and will be available in both physical and downloadable forms. According to var
News Nintendo Force To Reveal Exclusive Mutant Mudds Deluxe Info
Issue one is available today
You've probably heard of Nintendo Force already - it's a venture by a team of dedicated Nintendo fans (including our very own Corbie Dillard) to recreate the magic of the now-defunct Nintendo Power. Although it doesn't have the blessing or involvement of the original Nintendo Power staff, Nintendo Force is aiming to be...
News DreamRift: Publishers Are Scared Of Piracy
Even if there's no reason to be
When Renegade Kid's Jools Watsham stated that his company would be forced to pull support for the 3DS if piracy became a big enough problem, it triggered quite a debate. Watsham was branded as "anti-Nintendo" by some quarters, and Goodbye Galaxy Games founder Hugo Smits entered the argument with his own counterpoint...
Talking Point What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - New Year Edition
The world didn't end, so let's play more games
So, wait, the Mayans weren't wrong, it was just crazy conspiratorial types and a lazy media that talked about the end of the world? Well hot damn, let's play some video games! Yes, 2013 is here, the world is still spinning, and we're all going to celebrate by playing games — not that we don't do that...
News Chasing Aurora Demo Soaring Into Wii U eShop Soon
Broken Rules also working on an update
The Wii U eShop is already populated with some great games that have been developed by hard-working indie developers. One such title is Chasing Aurora, which has you soaring across the skies and flying through narrow little gates in a race against time. In our recent interview with Broken Rules, the game's...
News Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge Is Australia's First 18-Rated Video Game
Bloody brilliant, mate
Up until 1st January 2013, video games in Australia were forbidden from using the R18 rating that applies to movies, which meant players down under often missed out on playing titles which contained mature or adult themes. That has now changed, and the first game to be granted the coveted R18 rating is the Wii U bloodbath...
News Zelda Symphony of the Goddess coming to the UK this year
Have your big pouch ready!
On 25th October 2011, Zelda fans across the UK - and from further afield too - flocked to the Hammersmith Apollo for a once in a lifetime experience. The Legend of Zelda series celebrated its 25th anniversary in style - and featured Eiji Aonuma, Zelda Williams and legendary Zelda theme composer Koji Kondo. And now, that...
News Retro City Rampage Still On Course For Release This Month
Counting down the days
Back in December, we reported that Retro City Rampage was looking good for launch in January, following months of delays and a lack of solid info. Developer Vblank has reiterated this stance on Reddit, just in case you were getting worried that the January release might not happen. Here's what th
Thursday10th Jan 2013
News Hacker Combines Game Boy, Wii Remote and Android To Create Portable Nirvana
But only if you play games which use two buttons, obviously
Retro emulation on Android isn't going to go away, regardless of how questionable and legally dubious it is. However, the exploits of a hacker by the name of alpinedelta prove that even those who resort to playing ROMs on their phone often yearn for the feel of the real thing. alpinedelta...
Nintendo Download 10th January 2013 (North America)
Deer hunting, dino pets, biorhythms and world heroes
It's Nintendo Download update time, and this week's arrivals possibly represent the quirkiest collection of offerings in quite a while. Every platform gets something new — if Wii U demos count — while the handheld platforms have a strong focus on catching, hunting, caring for and picnicking...
News South Korea Is Getting Animal Crossing: New Leaf Before North America And Europe
Grumble, grumble
Animal Crossing: New Leaf is doing pretty brisk business in Japan, a fact which makes us western players all the more anxious to get our hands on it. So far, Nintendo has refused to give a solid release date for the game in this part of the world, instead vaguely stating that North America will get it "Q1/Q2" and Europe "Q2". Just...
News Footage of Renegade Kid's Crash Bandicoot DS Demo Emerges
No kidding
Crash Bandicoot, a series that originated as an exclusive on the Sony PlayStation but evolved to appear on multiple platforms, has been relatively quiet of late. In fact since Activision attained rights to the series in 2008, when it co-published Crash: Mind over Mutant, it's only appeared on mobile platforms. That's not the say that more...
News The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct Coming To Wii U
More zombie hoards incoming
Wii U has its fair share of mature games already with the likes of Assassin's Creed III, Darksiders II and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge - which will be out in Europe 11th January. Chances are if you're a fan of fighting through hoards of undead monsters you picked up a copy of ZombiU when the new console launched, and now...
News Fire Emblem: Awakening Demo On Its Way to North America
Plus some more info on DLC
North America doesn't have to wait much longer now for Fire Emblem: Awakening, the 3DS strategic RPG that sees you play as Lord Chrom and the Shepherds in a battle against a mysterious new evil. Nintendo has now revealed some more information on the game including how StreetPass and SpotPass will be implemented, as well...
News Whatever Happened To The Studio Founded By Ex-Retro Employees?
And has it been working on a Mega Man game?
Back in 2008, a group of staff from Retro Studios broke away to form Armature, with the promise of creating games for platforms other than those made by Nintendo. However, in four years the company has only produced one product: Metal Gear Solid HD Collection on the PlayStation Vita. Although the company...
News This New Monster Hunter 4 Trailer Will Bring Out The Beast In You
Fresh footage from 3DS epic emerges
Capcom has released a new trailer for the forthcoming 3DS title Monster Hunter 4, and it's predictably packed with foul beasts, stunning landscapes and - surprisingly - what appears to be a cooking cat. The game hits Japan later this year, following the delay of its proposed March release. Western players will...
News Trine 2 Magic Mayhem DLC Appears Unlikely To Happen
Developer confirms Trine 3 will happen, eventually
Trine 2: Director's Cut has proven to be a popular title in the Wii U eShop for many reasons. It's a very good game for a start, something we pointed out in our Trine 2: Director's Cut review, and it has some of the most glorious HD visuals ever seen on a home console; it really showed what Wii U...
News Data Analyst Firm Expects Discs to Remain as Console Mainstays
Predicts that Wii U will exceed 50 million sales by year-end 2016
With the continually evolving gaming industry, and a dizzying range of devices and platforms beyond the conventional big three of Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft, there are plenty of people who wonder whether the era of the dedicated game console is coming to a gradual end. Time will...
Wednesday9th Jan 2013
Massively Effective
Wii U had a rock solid line-up of launch titles to accompany it last year. From Grade-A third party franchises such as Assassin’s Creed through to Mario, a classic staple in the Nintendo canon. Oddly enough, more than a few of these launch games were sequels, or even third games in series’ that have already been around for...
News Pokémon X & Y Legendary Details Revealed
Names and artwork shared with us all
After yesterday's announcement of Pokémon X & Y, which possibly led to worldwide hype overload and mayhem on the streets, The Pokémon Company International has issued some information on the new 'mon that made an appearance at the very end of the announcement trailer. These are two new Legendary Pokémon:...
News Nyko Power Pak Boosts Wii U GamePad Stamina By Three Times
More power to your controller
As great as the Wii U is, the one thing that bugs many owners is the terrible battery life of the GamePad controller. We've lost count of the number of times we've had to play with it connected to the wall charger because we forgot to top-up the battery after the previous day's session. Thankfully, peripheral...
News Naruto: Powerful Shippuden Gets North American Release Date
Anime fans - mark 5th March in your diaries
A few weeks ago Namco Bandai revealed that Naruto: Powerful Shippuden would be coming to the 3DS in March. The game is a side-scrolling fighter based on the Naruto spin-off series Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals. Europe was given a concrete release of 8th March but North America’s date was slightly more...
Talking Point The Emergence of Download-Only Retail Games
A subtle but important evolution
The past couple of weeks have brought a notable landmark for the 3DS eShop, even if it hasn't necessarily caused internet-shaking headlines or attracted a great deal of attention. Unchained Blades, an RPG that would typically be found in specialist gaming stores or online retailers, if you're lucky, was released by...
News Main Pokémon RPG Series Continues to Prioritise Portable Gaming
At least 50 new creatures and 'Real Play' confirmed
Earlier today The Pokémon Company International provided names and some attractive artwork for two Legendary Pokémon in the upcoming Pokémon X & Y, and now some more crumbs of information have emerged. J.C. Smith, the director of consumer marketing for the Pokémon company international,...
News Level 5: Fantasy Life Will Become A Series
Not just a fantasy
Cutesy 3DS title Fantasy Life has been selling like hot cakes over in Japan with so many copies sold in its first week that the game has reportedly sold out. It's unsurprising then to learn that, during a recent interview with Famitsu, Level 5 has earmarked Fantasy Life as a new franchise for the studio saying it will be made...
News The Gold Nunchuk Shines Again on Club Nintendo
Hurry!
Last year we brought you the happy news that the gold Nunchuk was set to return to Club Nintendo in North America, a relief for those that want to use their limited edition The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword golden Wii Remote with even more style. Well, it's back in stock, so you'd better hurry. Available for 900 of your hard-earned coins,...
Nintendo Download 10th January 2013 (Europe)
A fractured soul, kung fu, blasting ninja masters and a Zombi demo
It's that time again, Europe, with Nintendo confirming details for this week's download update on its online platforms. 3DS, DSi and Wii are all catered for with a mixture of long awaited releases and some unexpected arrivals, while all is quiet — apart from a demo — on the Wii U...
News Police Recover Vehicles Used In Wii U Heist
Unfortunately, they were empty
Last month a group of thieves managed to steal 7,000 Wii U consoles from a distribution warehouse in Seattle. They did this by simply driving to SeaTac's Seattle Air Cargo warehouse during a storm, walking in, loading up pallets of the consoles into three large vehicles and then driving off. Since then information has...
News Nano Assault Neo Developer Lavishes More Praise On Wii U
Shin'en clearly pleased with Nintendo's new hardware
We know that Shin'en Multimedia - the studio behind the Wii U eShop title Nano Assault Neo - is fond of Nintendo's latest console, because we spoke to the company recently about developing for it. However, Shin'en is clearly a very pro-Wii U firm, as the Manfred Linzner has recently spoken to UK...
News Professor Layton And The Azran Legacies Release Date Solved For Japan
Layton's final mystery out next month
Famitsu has released some new information on Level-5's next installment in the Professor Layton franchise, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies, revealing that the game will launch in Japan on 28th February. It was confirmed during a Nintendo Direct broadcast in the summer that this would be the final puzzle...
News Enhanced Version Of Professor Layton And The Miracle Mask Releasing In Japan
With added extra content
Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask launched almost 2 years ago in Japan, and will finally be making its way to the 3DS eShop over there, which comes with a plus. We literally mean 'plus', as the game will be released on the eShop as Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask+ to distinguish between it and the original...
News Nintendo Maintains Momentum and Dominance in Japanese Charts
3DS still comfortably out-performing Wii U
It's a New Year, but the same old story in the Japanese hardware and software charts. In recent times it's not been a question of how dominant Nintendo (particularly 3DS) is, but the extent to which it's outperforming rival systems. The most recent results (covering the first week of the New Year) continue...
News Zen Pinball 2 Dev Working With Nintendo To Ensure Smooth Launch
It's the first free download with paid-for DLC on any Nintendo system
Zen Pinball 2 was supposed to hit the Wii U eShop back in December, but the release was delayed until January so that Zen Studios could fine-tune the game a little more. We're now a third of the way through the month and there's still no sign of the game, but the developer has at...
News Mighty Switch Force: Hyper Drive Edition Gets 30% Discount in North America
The sales keep coming
After an initial period when Europeans wallowed in Wii U eShop sales to the envious glances of North American gamers, the shoe is now getting firmly tied to the other foot. Three titles received festive period discounts in the region, and now WayForward Technologies has kicked off the New Year by chopping 30% off Mighty Switch...
Tuesday8th Jan 2013
Review Unchained Blades (3DS eShop)
Do the wyrm
If you could wish for anything, what would it be? If you're anything like Fang, the immediately off-putting Dragon King protagonist in the opening moments of Unchained Blades, you'd ask for the name of the strongest being alive, start a fight with a goddess and get thrown out of heaven for your insolence. Thankfully, XSEED's latest 3DS...
Review Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?! (DS)
I'm ready for you now Brad
Back in March 2012 fans of the cult TV series Adventure Time rejoiced around the world, as series creator Pendleton Ward announced via a doodle on his Twitter page that WayForward Technologies and D3 Publisher would be working on a video game adaptation for the DS and 3DS, the absurdly named Adventure Time: Hey Ice King!...
So, what do you think of Wii U?
Chances are, if you're a dedicated Nintendo fan then you already own a Wii U console. Nintendo's latest hardware has a lot to live up to - its predecessor the Wii is one of the best-selling pieces of gaming hardware ever - but we personally think it's off to a good start, with some unique features, a great online...
Review Shock Troopers 2nd Squad (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)
Trigger happy
Much like the original Shock Troopers game, 2nd Squad is very much inspired by the early days of arcade gaming, when overhead run-and-gun titles like Capcom's Commando were in vogue. While the game has a very Metal Slug feel to it, the multi-directional scrolling and 360 degree movement and firing make for quite an intense and engaging...
Talking Point Pokémon X & Y Provide a Timely Boost for 3DS in the West
The DS era is left behind
The biggest release on DS in 2012, and surely the runaway winner of practically every Game of the Year award specifically tailored for the older handheld, were the Pokémon Black & White 2 titles, tied together for the purposes of simplicity. Yet its announcement and release on the platform surprised a number of gamers...
News Virtual Console Games Will Eventually Be Playable On Wii U GamePad Alone
Nintendo still working towards getting the Virtual Console set up on Wii U
The Wii U eShop has been hailed by a number of small developers as an exciting new platform on which to publish games; however, since the system's launch the eShop hasn’t seen a significant growth due to few new titles emerging. Many people have also been wondering what is...
News Pokémon X and Pokémon Y Caught In Worldwide Release This October
3D is super effective
Today, after over a week of teasing a major announcement, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata used the first Nintendo Direct broadcast of the year to unveil Pokémon X & Y, the first main-series entries on the company's latest handheld. Brief footage shown demonstrated a 3D environment rather than a fixed overhead view, while...
Nintendo Direct Watch The Special Pokémon Announcement Right Here
Gotta watch it all
Today, Nintendo will be broadcasting a Nintendo Direct focused solely on Pokémon news. The event will take place at 6 AM EST / 3 AM PST / 12 PM CET / 11 AM UK and will be hosted by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. You can watch the video unfold on this very page, and as usual we'll be providing comments during the broadcast...
News LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Coming To Wii U And 3DS
Marvellous!
We’re big fans of LEGO games here at Nintendo Life. Recently we’ve seen the likes of Lord of the Rings, Batman and the DC Superheroes receive the LEGO treatment while original game LEGO City: Undercover is due out on Wii U soon. The DC Universe of characters won’t be the only ones to get their own LEGO game as it has now been...
News 3DS RPG Fantasy Life Already Sold Out In Japan
Hopes of a Western release boosted
Level 5 has a few 3DS games out in Japan that are yet to be confirmed for Western release. Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney has been out since the end of November and just before the New Year the ultra-cute Fantasy Life was made available in both physical and digital form. Fantasy Life is actually developed by...
News Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate Demo On The Way
Whipping up a storm in the eShop
Yesterday Konami producer Dave Cox took to Twitter to answer a few eager Castlevania fans' questions regarding the Castlevania: Lords of Shadow series. Unfortunately he reiterated his stance that Lords of Shadow 2, a game already confirmed for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, would not be coming to Wii U. He has since...
News "No Chance" Of Castlevania Lords Of Shadow 2 On Wii U
Fangs for nothing
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate is hitting the 3DS early this year, giving fans of the franchise a fresh reason to pick up their vampire-killing whip and lay the smackdown on the undead hordes. The game is part of the Lords of Shadow sub-series, which started in 2010 with the Xbox 360 and PS3 reboot and will continue...
News The Conduit Looks Set for Nvidia's Project Shield
From Wii to the Tegra mobile gaming platform
Yesterday we reported on Nvidia's announcement of Project Shield, a device that incorporates a conventional home console controller with a high-quality retina display touchscreen, impressive all-round specs and the ability to stream PC games without the need for a meaty broadband connection. Whether it'll...
News GameStop Reports 320,000 Wii U Sales Since Launch
Covers a large range of trading territories
As another year settles in snippets of information are starting to reveal the Holiday fortunes of Wii U, since its North American arrival on 18th November and its subsequent releases in Europe, Japan and elsewhere. NPD figures should paint a clearer picture for the US later this week, while Nintendo's own...
News 3DS Surpasses 10 Million Sales in Japan
It keeps on rolling
While worldwide performance and firm figures are either hard to find or occasionally shown to be modest, one thing is certain — the 3DS is emerging as a major sales success in Japan. Perhaps due to the power of franchises — Animal Crossing: New Leaf has been a monster hit — the handheld's performance is such that it's...
News Troubled THQ To Be Picked Apart By Rivals
Key franchises to be sold to the highest bidder
The future of THQ largely hangs in the balance as the company struggles to find the cash to stay afloat. Back in December the publisher filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy handing over its assets to investment firm Clearlake Capital, which is now looking for a prospective buyer. It has been confirmed...
Monday7th Jan 2013
Hardware Classics Game Boy Micro Famicom Edition
Micro Marvel
For more than a decade, the name "Game Boy" was as synonymous with handheld gaming as "iPod" is with portable music playback today. Following the launch of the original monochrome Game Boy console in the late '80s, Nintendo ruled the market with total dominance thanks to an incredibly popular line of million-selling systems. When the...
Dance epidemic tonight
Given its massive success, we can't even feign surprise at this point that Just Dance hasn't veered far from its path. Pleased with its gift horse and eyes locked firmly elsewhere but its mouth, Ubisoft keeps it on the same track for yet another go round of light-hearted party fun. The prerequisite tweaks and fiddles to the...
Review Skylanders Giants (Wii U)
Not a giant leap
Plastic peripherals and Activision seem to be a match made in heaven, with Guitar Hero and then Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure both emptying our wallets. Well, it's not safe to put your money away just yet, as Skylanders Giants hits the shelves complete with a whole new set of must-have plastic collectables. So it's back to Skylands...
Review World Heroes 2 (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)
Global gathering
ADK’s World Heroes series is one of the Neo Geo’s lesser-known fighting dynasties, and is usually pushed to one side when people get all nostalgic about the likes of King of Fighters, Art of Fighting, Samurai Shodown and Fatal Fury. This is probably because the franchise never really took itself all that seriously; the cast was...
News Streets Of Rage 4 Almost Happened, But Sega Decided Otherwise
Series composer spills the beans
Sega's Streets of Rage franchise - known in Japan as Bare Knuckle - is arguably one of the most beloved 16-bit series of all time. It's not just popular with Sega fans, either; the legendary second outing is seen by many retro experts as the finest side-scrolling fighter ever conceived. Amazingly, the franchise has...
News Code of Princess Will Only Be Available On 3DS eShop In Europe
No boxed copy for this one, unfortunately
Action-packed RPG Code of Princess has been out in North America since October and has recently been made available for download in the 3DS eShop. It's all very nice for lucky North Americans but Europeans have been waiting for what seems like an age to get hold of a copy of the game. There's still no solid...
News New Pokémon Nintendo Direct Appearing On 8th January
Pokéballs on the ready
Last weekend we reported that Game Freak had promised new Pokémon information on the 8th January. Looks like the big announcement is set to be released, as both Nintendo of Europe and Nintendo of America have revealed via Twitter that a special Nintendo Direct focusing on Pokémon news will be hosted by Nintendo President...
News Animal Crossing: New Leaf Has Been Downloaded Half A Million Times In Japan
Iwata reveals that smartphones have played a huge part in the game's success
Animal Crossing: New Leaf has become something of a smash hit in its native Japan; as of December, it has sold 2 million copies, becoming one of the most popular 3DS games yet and illustrating just how massive Nintendo's console is in the far east. Download sales haven't...
News Team Ninja: Wii U Is "Definitely Next Generation"
"Players want new innovation"
A few months back Ukrainian developer 4A, the team behind Metro: Last Light, claimed that it was not impressed with the graphical processing power of Wii U, saying it has a "horrible, slow CPU". This comment naturally sparked off a debate within the industry with many people agreeing with the statement, while others...
News Nvidia Unveils the Daunting Project Shield
A game changer for 3DS?
Update: We originally wrote that we believe this system may use a broadband connection to stream PC games from platforms such as Steam. In actual fact, the official product page explains that only a compatible router is required, with the device utilising a local connection between the system and a GeForce equipped PC...
News Team Ninja Considering More Titles For Wii U
Working on an action game
In a recent interview with Official Nintendo Magazine, developer Team Ninja said that it is considering developing more games for the Wii U after Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge is released in Europe this month. When asked about what was next on the team's agenda, Yosuke Hayashi - director behind the upcoming action/adventure...
News Crysis 3 Not Coming To Wii U Due To A "Lack Of Business Drive"
Crysis averted
We reported a couple of months back that Crysis 3 wouldn't be making its way to the Wii U following comments from a Crytek staffer. Just in case you still held out hope, Cevat Yerli, CEO and founder of Crytek, has confirmed to Digital Spy that there is currently no chance of the futuristic FPS making its way to Wii U. Yerli said:
News Super Mario Bros. Theme Gets The Rock Treatment
Metal rock, that is
It's Monday, the Holiday season is well and truly over, and despair may be the feeling of the day. Still, fear not, because YouTube has the answer to brighten your mood! No, it's not a sneezing panda, or a puppy doing the cutest things, or even a rubbish Gangnam Style routine. Oh no, it's music from Super Mario Bros. with a metal...
News Iwata: Nintendo Open To "Free-To-Play" Gaming Model
But only if it suits the game in question
We've already reported on the Nikkei interview with Nintendo president Satoru Iwata regarding the success of Animal Crossing: New Leaf, but the news that it had shifted 500,000 downloads wasn't the only interesting info he had to share. Iwata was also keen to talk about the impact of Free-to-Play gam
News Capcom Reveals Weapon Details for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
Quite the "sworded" affair
In anticipation of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate's release in March, Capcom Unity has begun posting some details about the game's weapons, starting with the classic Sword and Shield combo. The full weapon description states how this weapon set is more suited to novices, although skilled players who master it will be able to...
News Satoru Iwata Says That Wii U is "Selling Steadily"
Nintendo share prices have dropped since the system's launch
Although no concrete sales figures for Wii U have been given so far, Satoru Iwata has spoken about the performance of Nintendo's new home console in its early weeks. Many have observed that stock has been readily available and easy to obtain in recent times, a significantly different...
News Coaster Creator 3D Promises Thrills and Spills for the 3DS eShop
Are you tall enough to get on?
Now that the Holiday season has passed many would be forgiven for fantasizing about warmer days of summer — unless you're reading this from the southern hemisphere, in which case we hope you're enjoying the warm season. A popular pastime in the hot months of the year is heading to a theme park for some roller coaster...
News Fractured Soul Gets a PAL Reduction in Stand Against Price Hikes
A rebellion against high Australian prices
Fractured Soul has been a passionate project years in the making for Endgame Studios, as they told us in our interview last year. It arrived in North America on 13th September 2012, and is due in this week's update in PAL regions now that the rating and approval processes are complete. We certainly felt...
News Avengers Assembling In The UK On 25th January
Marvellous?
Wii U has had quite a lot of third party support since its launch and no publisher has backed the system more than Ubisoft, which is releasing games left, right and centre. We already have the likes of exclusive ZombiU and multi-platform release Assassin's Creed III, Rayman Legends will be making an appearance in a few months, and now...
Sunday6th Jan 2013
Feature Nintendo in 2012 - Part Two
Lots of Mario and Wii U's arrival
In the first six months of 2012, which we looked at in the first part of our 2012 retrospective, Nintendo oversaw some major releases on 3DS and announced the XL model, the Wii had a few memorable arrivals and E3 came and went with its own brand of madness. There were also a number of quirky stories that passed by,...
News Fire Emblem: Awakening Will Be Available On 3DS eShop
In case there was any doubt
Nintendo has been making all of its retail titles available in their respective eShops for a few months now. You can find the likes of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D and Mario Kart 7 on the 3DS eShop while New Super Mario Bros. U and Nintendo Land both reside in the Wii U equivalent. It won't come as a surpr
Review Air Battle Hockey 3D (3DS eShop)
Balls to the wall
Ever since Pong invaded homes 40 years ago, simple ball and paddle games have had a home in gaming. Air Battle Hockey 3D doesn't manage to stand out among the four-decade pedigree, but it is at least a competent entry on its own merits. The game is so simple that there's really not much to say about it. You use your stylus to...
Review Snowboard Xtreme (DSiWare)
Xtremely lacklustre
Sometimes a game company develops a game that doesn’t turn out to be nearly as well received as they expect it to be. After that, the very same game company will sometimes take that sorry excuse for a game, change the theme, fix the controls, re-skin it to look like something different, and then release it as an entirely new...
News Renegade Kid Clarifies 3DS Piracy Comments
"If we cannot make money from developing games we can no longer develop games"
Recently Renegade Kid co-founder Jools Watsham sparked off a conversation about piracy on the 3DS. In a blog post he stated that if piracy was to get bad on the handheld he would have no choice but to pull support for the system. In a second blog post on the topic,...
Saturday5th Jan 2013
News New Super Mario Bros. U's High-Definition Credentials Tested
Up-scaled Wii engine, or genuine leap in graphical detail?
Now that the dust has settled on Wii U's launch, a number of people have spent extensive time with New Super Mario Bros. U and seen the first ever HD appearance of Mario outside of the Dolphin emulator on Wii. For those that do put a certain stock in visual fidelity as well as simple...
Feature Nintendo in 2012 - Part One
3DS fought back, hype mode was engaged
Not so long ago it could be argued that Nintendo was having some relaxing times, with DS and Wii systems flying off shelves and console rivals rushing to the platform in order to hop on the motion-control train. Of course, technology and the gaming industry evolve, and in 2011 Nintendo found itself trying to...
Friday4th Jan 2013
Feature The Biggest 3DS Games of 2013
Mostly on their way from Japan
With a New Year comes optimism for lots of fun, exciting gaming experiences. We've already outlined what we think are ten of the biggest Wii U games of 2013 — well, those that are confirmed — so now we'll do the same for 3DS. After a rocky début year, 2012 went some way to revive the fortunes of the handheld —...
Rumour 3DS Cartridge Could Allow Handheld to Function as Wii U Controller
A bucket of salt is needed for this one
We do love the occasional rumour here at Nintendo Life, and the latest has emerged from French website nintendo-master.com, courtesy of its very own unnamed source — we love that guy/gal, we really do. In any case, the rumour is that an old DS patent is going to be revived which will allow a cartridge and...
News Picked Up A Pre-Owned Wii U Console? You Could Have Access To Free Downloads
Content tied to hardware and not Nintendo Network ID
We all know that the current Nintendo Network ID system isn't perfect - we've spoken about it in the past, in fact. However, things have become even more interesting with the news that second-hand Wii U consoles retain download privileges for games purchased by the original owner - even after the...
News GameStop Sales of Wii U Are Reportedly "Slightly Disappointing"
Thankfully not "very disappointing", we suppose
Now that the Holiday season is passing and the majority of people are already returning to the drudgery of work and normal life, some analysis about festive spending and sales is expected to emerge. Wii U will be a major topic in the gaming industry when looking at sales, as it's a new home console...
News The Tragic Tale of Bonk: Brink of Extinction Developer Pi Studios
You don't always get a happy ending
Remember Bonk: Brink of Extinction? It was an update of Hudson's famous TurboGrafx-16 platformer that was supposed to come out on WiiWare in 2010, but was cancelled despite being almost finished. Texas-based Pi Studios - the team behind the update - closed in 2011, but many of its staff moved on to form Oscar...
News Virtual Boy Port of Faceball Is Getting A Physical Release
ROM will be uploaded to the net for free once all copies are sold
It would seem that Nintendo's much-maligned Virtual Boy console is undergoing something of a renaissance at present. Last month we reported that Bound High - a Virtual Boy game which never saw the light of day when the console was originally released - had gone into production thanks...
News Two Tribes Considering More Wii U eShop Releases
Points are all that you can score
Two Tribes is currently working on finalising Toki Tori 2 for release on the Wii U eShop, but has been busy on Twitter hinting at more projects and releases that it's planning for the new system. On the cards are two existing PC/Mac/Smartphone titles, while the same thread of tweets also floated the idea of a "co-op...
Thursday3rd Jan 2013
Nintendo Download 3rd January 2013 (North America)
Welcoming in the new year with some downloadable goodies
It's quite a big week for the Nintendo Download, as it sees the arrival of the first "retail" download in the shape of XSEED Games' Unchained Blades. That's not the only reason to be cheerful though, as you can see from the selection of games below. 3DS download software: Unchained Blades...
News SNES Classic SimCity Removed From Wii Virtual Console
Nintendo bowing to pressure from EA?
According to a post on NeoGAF, the Super Nintendo version of SimCity is no longer available on the North American Virtual Console. No official line has been given for the removal, but we would imagine it has something to do with EA owning the SimCity license now. This isn't the first time that software has been...
News Paper Mario: Sticker Star Had Some Mini-Games Left On The Cutting Room Floor
Intelligent Systems ran out of time
Paper Mario: Sticker Star became a welcome addition to the 3DS catalogue towards the end of 2012 and many have been getting stuck into the game over the festive period. It has been revealed that some elements of the game were cut due to time constraints, most notably a selection of mini-games that were set to...
News The Disney Projects That Never Came To Life
Mickey Mouse titles that could have been
It's come to light that Buena Vista Games - now known as Disney Interactive Studios - was experimenting with different ideas for a Mickey Mouse game long before Disney Epic Mickey became a reality. The proposed Mickey Mouse title - given the working title Spy Mickey - sadly never got past the concept phase,...
News Mega Man Legends 3 Lives On In Fan-Made Browser Game
The legend will never die
Capcom broke a few hearts when it cancelled Mega Man Legends 3, but lovers of the Blue Bomber don't take setbacks like this sitting down. Fans Blyka and fAB have created a browser-based version of the Servbot mission in the Mega Man Legends 3: Prototype Version. Servbot Roundup allows you to: Ride around as Barrett, as...
News Renegade Kid Confirms Mutant Mudds 2
Even more Mudds
3DS eShop title Mutant Mudds has proven to be extremely popular with Nintendo gamers, so much so that Renegade Kid, the game's developer, is bringing the game to the Wii U eShop in what is known as Mutant Mudds Deluxe. Yesterday we learnt that the new content in Mutant Mudds Deluxe would be exclusive to Wii U, and now even more...
News LEGO Laying More Bricks With Legends Of Chima This Year
Coming to 3DS and DS
Warner Bros. and TT Games have revealed the next installment in the increasingly popular LEGO series. The title isn't based on a popular TV series or movie - it's a completely new game, based on LEGO's new Legends of Chima line of figures which is set to launch in 2013. The game - LEGO Legends of Chima: Laval's Journey, to give...
News Here's An Enormous LEGO NES Controller That Actually Works
Colour us amazed
If you're a fans of LEGO and the NES, you need look no further. It's taken him four months, but Baron von Brunk has created a gigantic NES controller out of LEGO. It's the ultimate accessory. Von Brunk began the project in July 2012, to coincide with the 25th anniversary release of the first The Legend of Zelda title for the NES...
News Fire Emblem: Awakening Teaser Trailer Emerges
Even more to whet our appetitie
Nintendo of America has released an incredibly short but very sweet teaser trailer for upcoming RPG Fire Emblem: Awakening for 3DS. The game will hit the US next month 4th February, with GameStop offering a special pre-order bonus in the form of a character art book. Europe will have to wait until 19th April to get...
Wednesday2nd Jan 2013
Review Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (3DS eShop / NES)
Lost levels = lost sanity
It's a story so well known now that we'll just summarise it for you: what is now known as Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels was actually released in Japan as the sequel to enduring classic Super Mario Bros. Western gamers instead received the subconscious vegetable buffet that we more traditionally think of as Super Mario...
Feature The Biggest Wii U Games of 2013
Well, those that we know about
2012 was a busy year for Nintendo — which our upcoming yearly review will hopefully demonstrate — but now it's all about moving forward with its current systems, with Wii U hogging plenty of headlines by virtue of the fact that it's less than two months old. We won't truly know how well worldwide launch and Holiday...
News Wii U Version Of Need For Speed: Most Wanted Will Feature Off-Screen Play
Japanese release date confirmed as 14th March
We know that Need For Speed: Most Wanted is coming to the Wii U in 2013, but up until recently there was no solid indication of when that would be. That's now changed as EA Japan has listed the release date as 14th March in that region - presumably North American and European dates will follow shortly...
Review Johnny Impossible (3DS eShop)
Mission: Intolerable
Johnny Impossible is a bad game. We'd be perfectly happy to leave the review at that sentence, as it does actually tell you everything you need to know, but Johnny Impossible is so interestingly bad that we need to say a lot more about it, if only to achieve some sort of closure. Having made his eShop debut in Johnny Kung Fu,...
News Castlevania: Mirror Of Fate Contains Eye-Stabbing, Werewolf Appendages And Topless Action
ESRB rating paints a pretty picture
ESRB ratings are usually good for a laugh, as they have to spell out in quite a plain and matter-of-fact manner the themes which are contained within each game, and the rating for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate is certainly no exception. The game has been deemed 'Mature' by the ESRB, and goes on to...
News Project X Zone Suffers Massive Price Drop In Japan
3DS tactical role-player discounted by 85%
Namco Bandai's cross-over RPG Project X Zone has seen its price slashed by an incredible 85% by one Japanese retailer in what appears to be an effort to shift unsold stock. To make matters even more embarrassing, it would appear that the version of the game being discounted is the first-print limited...
Nintendo Download 3rd January 2013 (Europe)
Ghosts 'n stuff, tanks, crystals and vampires
As 2013 slowly cranks into gear, Nintendo of Europe has released details of what Europeans can expect in this week's download update. It's another week with no additions on the Wii U eShop, but the 3DS, DSi and Wii equivalents all have some content to consider. Is any of it going to get your year started...
News Goodbye Galaxy Games Responds To Renegade Kid's Piracy Claims
Indie developer says plenty of other factors contribute to poor sales
Over the weekend Jools Watsham, co-founder of Renegade Kid, wrote in a blog post that he felt hacking into the guts of the 3DS would result in an increase in piracy - something that could force developers to stop supporting the system. Watsham pointed to the DS which suffered...
News Indie Hit FEZ Is Finally Shaking Off XBLA Exclusivity In 2013
Could be heading to the Wii U eShop
FEZ creator Phil Fish has confirmed that the indie platformer will be coming to other platforms in 2013. He broke the news on the Polytron site in a post which reflects on 2012 and explains the plans for the next twelve months. FEZ launched on Xbox Live Arcade in April 2012, and gained a raft of awards. However,...
News Miyamoto: Pikmin 3 To Be More Like Series Original
Legendary designer looking to increase the player's stress levels
In a recent interview with UK gaming publication, GamesMaster, Shigeru Miyamoto has claimed that he wants Pikmin 3's gameplay to have more in common with the first game of the series, rather than its sequel. Miyamoto stated that he wasn't happy with the decision to make Pikmin 2 less...
News UK 007 Legends Wii U Release Now TBC 2013
DateFall
James Bond: 007 Legends has hardly had the most dignified of starts at retail. The game has received something of a critical mauling, and following its release the news hit that developer Eurocom had been closed down. Although the game was released in North America on 11th December, the UK release never happened. We approached Activision...
News UK Video Games Market Fell By 17.4% in 2012
Big challenges for the industry
The Entertainment Retailers Association has reported that in 2012 the UK video games market fell by 17.4%, including both physical and digital sales. In 2011 the whole video games market in the UK was worth £1.934 billion, in comparison to £1.598 billion in 2012. While digital sales did increase by 7.7% in 2012,...
News Mutant Mudds Deluxe Content Will Be Exclusive To Wii U
3DS won't be getting any DLC
Mutant Mudds Deluxe will be heading onto the Wii U eShop in the first quarter of 2013 and it has been revealed by Renegade Kid, the game's developer, that the additional content that will be found in it will be exclusive to the Wii U version. Taking to Twitter, Renegade Kid's co-founder Jools Watsham revealed that the...
News ATV Wild Ride 3D Racing To 3DS eShop
North American and European releases confirmed
Co-founder of Renegade Kid Jools Watsham has revealed via Twitter that ATV Wild Ride 3D will be coming to the 3DS eShop in both North America and Europe. No official release date has been given for the stunt-pulling title. You can read our First Impressions on the game here. This isn't the only news...
Tuesday1st Jan 2013
Review Scribblenauts Unlimited (3DS)
Doodle dandy
After enjoying some success with its Drawn to Life title on Nintendo DS, developer 5th Cell set out to create a unique action/puzzler that allowed the player to conjure up almost any object they could think of by merely typing the name of that object into the game. This offered not only a large array of creativity, but also allowed...
News Nintendo Hires Pop Group To Promote 3DS In Taiwan
Expanding its horizons in the East
The 3DS is just about to begin its journey in Taiwan, with Nintendo hiring popular female group S.H.E to help towards commercial marketing for the handheld. Across Taiwan, the group will feature in TV adverts playing Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7. Nintendo of Taiwan has also translated The Legend of Zelda:...
Talking Point Nintendo's New Year Resolutions
Mario should probably lose some weight
So it's the start of a New Year, and is the ideal time to reflect on hopes for future success and on what can be done better. Nintendo had an exceptionally busy 2012, working hard to expand the 3DS user-base and releasing the XL hardware iteration, while also bringing us its new home console, Wii U. We can...
News Capcom Not Looking To Bring "Late Ports" To Wii U
Focusing on new titles rather than old ones
The Wii U has had its fair share of ports already; games that have been released previously on other consoles and have been transferred over to Nintendo's new system with a few more bells and whistles attached. Batman: Arkham City Armoured Edition, Darksiders II, and Mass Effect 3 for example have all had...
Review Jump Trials Extreme (DSiWare)
Aiming higher
It's only been a little over a month since G-STYLE's Jump Trials hopped onto the DSiWare service, but its sequel Jump Trials Extreme has already made the long leap over from Japan. Like 10 Second Run, the Jump Trials games are all about performing daring feats of platforming in under 10 seconds. We thought the original was an enjoyable...
Site News Nintendo Life Wishes You A Happy New Year
Here's to 2013
2012 was a massive year for Nintendo. It saw the launch of the Wii U and the release of the revised 3DS XL. It also played host to some amazing games, including New Super Mario Bros. U, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, Mutant Mudds, Resident Evil Revelations,
